The No. 15 University of Florida men's tennis team got its biggest win of the early season as the Gators topped No. 2 Baylor Sunday afternoon at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, 4-3. With the victory, Florida improved to 3-0 on the year while Baylor fell to 4-1.
The win was UF's second straight over the Bears as the Gators slipped past Baylor, 4-3, last year in Waco to end BU's 61-match home win streak.
“To beat Baylor who is a contender for the NCAA championship this year does surprise me a little,” said UF head coach Andy Jackson. “We had two freshmen that stepped up in doubles and that gave our world-class guy on court one in singles a chance to make a difference and we were able to get a big win.”
The doubles point was a thriller that came down to court three. Even at four each in a tiebreaker, freshmen Geoffrey Barton and Dan Cash took control and gave the Gators a 1-0 lead with a 9-8 (4) victory over Attila Bucko and David Galic.
After Lars Poerschke and Michal Kokta defeated Jordan Dolberg and Nestor Briceno on court two earlier in doubles play, 8-1, UF was left needing wins on each of the remaining courts. On the top court, Greg Ouellette and Jesse Levine forced the issue with an 8-5 decision over Dominik Mueller and Matija Zgaga.
“I felt like the doubles was the difference maker,” said Jackson. “It gave Greg, Nestor and Jesse a chance to understand if they could sweep their matches we could win. The two freshmen made the difference today for us in doubles.”
In singles play the top of the Florida lineup came away with straight-set wins to secure the victory. After Baylor evened things at 1-1, Levine defeated Poerschke, 6-1, 6-3, on court on in just over an hour. Levine's win was the first over a collegiate ranked opponent of his career as Poershcke, who was an All-American in 2006, entered at No. 56.
Ouellette (No. 16) got the Gators to within one of the upset with a 6-1, 6-2 showing over Kokta (No. 17). Ouellette moved to 3-0 in singles play on the year and has won each in straight sets.
After the team score moved to 3-2, Briceno broke Zgaga in the 11th game of the second set on court three and held on for a 6-1, 7-5 victory to give the Gators a 4-2 lead.
Florida takes the next week off before making its first road trip of the season as the Gators travel To Champaign, Ill., to meet No. 7 Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. (ET).
College Men's Tennis
Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex
Gainesville, Fla.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Final Score: Florida 4, Baylor 3
Doubles
No. 1 Greg Ouellette-Jesse Levine, UF def. Dominik Mueller-Matija Zgaga, BU, 8-5
No. 2 Lars Poerschke-Michal Kokta, BU, def. Jordan Dolberg-Nestor Briceno, UF, 8-1
No. 3 Dan Cash-Geoffrey Barton, UF def. Attila Bucko-David Galic, 9-8 (4)
Singles
No. 1 Jesse Levine, UF def. Lars Poerschke (56), Baylor, 6-1, 6-3
No. 2 Greg Ouellette (16), UF def. Michal Kokta (17), Baylor, 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 Nestor Briceno (60), UF def. Matija Zgaga, Baylor, 6-1, 7-5
No. 4 Matt Brown, Baylor def. Jordan Dolberg, UF, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (4)
No. 5 Dominik Mueller (53), Baylor def. Dan Cash, UF, 6-4, 6-1
No. 6 Denes Lukacs (66), Baylor def. Geoffrey Barton, UF, 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: Doubles – 2, 1, 3 Singles – 6, 1, 2, 5, 3, 4
END OF REPORT
