Florida Gators
Texas A&M
Men's Tennis Tops Tenth-Ranked Texas A&M
Friday, February 7, 2003 | Men's Tennis
For the first time in the history of the series, the University of Florida men's tennis team defeated Texas A&M on Friday afternoon at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville with a 6-1 decision. UF, which entered the match ranked sixth in the country, picked up its second win over a top ten team in the head coach Andy Jackson era in improving to 4-1 on the season. Texas A&M, which had taken the first three in the series, dropped its second straight match to fall to 3-2.
"It was a big win for us today because we are coming off a loss that looked bad (UF lost 7-0 to No. 2 Illinois on Feb. 1)," said Jackson. " We told our team that we played well at Illinois, and they needed to stick with what they were doing. The team believed us and we had all the advantages today just like Illinois did when we went there. All matches are important, but this one was special to us because we have not been able to beat them. I'm not saying the tables have turned now, but we were able to come away with a solid win."
The Gators gained the doubles point at No. 3 where 13th-ranked Matt Behrmann and Troy Hahn defeated John Nallon and Khaled El-Dorry, 8-4. UF used the same score at the second position where 37th-ranked Olivier Levant and Eleazar Magallan battled back from a 3-0 deficit to put the Gators in position to win the point with their victory over Matt Loucks and Ryan Newport.
In the single matches 68th-ranked Olivier Levant continued to build momentum for the Gators as he needed just one hour to defeat 83rd-ranked Ante Matijevic at No. 3. After picking up the first set at love, Levant took his fourth straight set win of the dual season with a 6-2 decision in the second set. The lower half of the Florida line up continued to provide the power as UF held off Texas A&M in positions four through six. Senior Matt Behrmann, ranked 116th, clinched the victory for Florida with a 6-4, 6-4 win over 123rd-ranked Matt Loucks on the fifth court. Freshman Janne Holmia (29th) was tested at No. 2 by 71st-ranked Lester Cook in the only match of the day to go to a third set. Holmia, who has needed a third set in four of five dual matches this season, won the match 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-0. Having to battle carried over to the singles No. 6 match for Magallan as he defeated John Nallon 6-4, 7-5. However, he was up 4-0 in the second set before falling behind 5-4 and eventually coming back for the victory.
Florida will return to the courts on Sunday, Feb. 9, as it travels to Tallahassee, Fla. to meet in state rival Florida State at 1 p.m.
NCAA Men's Tennis
Doubles
No. 1 #5 Lester Cook/Ante Matijevic (A&M) def. Hamid Mirzadeh/Chris McDonald, 8-3
No. 2 #37 Olivier Levant/Eleazar Magallan (UF) def. Matt Loucks/Ryan Newport (A&M), 8-4
No. 3 #13 Matt Behrmann/Troy Hahn (UF) def. John Nallon/Khaled El-Dorry (A&M), 8-4
Singles
No. 1 Ryan Newport (A&M) def. Hamid Mirzadeh (UF), 6-4, 6-0
No. 2 #29 Janne Holmia (UF) def. #71 Lester Cook (A&M), 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-0
No. 3 #68 Olivier Levant (UF) def. #83 Ante Matijvic (A&M), 6-0, 6-2
No. 4 Troy Hahn (UF) def. Khaled El-Dorry (A&M), 6-4, 7-5
No. 5 #116 Matt Behrmann (UF) def. #123 Matt Loucks (A&M), 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 #T78 Eleazar Magallan (UF) def. John Nallon (A&M), 6-4, 7-5
Numbers preceding names indicate current national rankings
