The No. 8 University of Florida men's tennis team nearly overcame a 3-1 deficit, but was edged, 4-3, at No. 19 LSU in a match that came down to the third set of the last court on at the “Dub” Robinson Stadium in Baton Rouge on Sunday. The loss, which snapped a four-match win streak, dropped UF to 11-5 on the year and 6-2 in the league. The Tigers increased their record to 11-6 overall and 4-4 in the league.
Florida's Nestor Briceno and Alex Lacroix defeated LSU's Kevin Dessauer and Colt Gaston on court two (8-7), however, the Tigers had already earned the doubles point with wins at the top and bottom of the lineup. The win improved the UF duo's record to a team-leading13-3 in dual matches.
Singles play got underway with Lacroix (No. 53) evening the match with a 6-3, 6-3, showing over Colt Gaston on court three. Lacroix's win was his fourth-straight and moved the UF newcomer to 6-2 in SEC dual matches.
After falling behind, 3-1, UF's Nestor Briceno and Tyler Hochwalt tied the match for the second time with victories on courts two and five, respectively. Hochwalt, who leads all Gators with a 14-2 dual match record took out James Cluskey (6-2, 7-6), while Briceno defeated his sixth ranked opponent of the season in (No. 92) Jan Zelezny (6-2, 6-1).
With the team score even, Erik Corace forced Sebastian Carlsson to a third set on court six. After falling in the first set, 6-4, Corace took a 6-2 second set before Carlsson took over for a 6-1 third set win to give the Tigers the match.
Florida returns to the courts on Friday, April 4, for the first of three home matches that will complete the regular season. UF takes on No. 25 Auburn at 3 p.m. at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville.
College Men's Tennis
W.T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium
Baton Rouge, La.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Final Score:
Doubles
No. 1 James Cluskey/Michael Venus, LSU def. Jeff Dadamo/Greg Ouellette (UF), 8-3
No. 2 Nestor Briceno/Alex Lacroix (UF) def. Kevin Dessauer/Colt Gaston (LSU), 8-7
No. 3 Sebastian Carlsson/Jan Zelezny (LSU) def. Geoffrey Barton/Tyler Hochwalt (UF), 8-3
Singles
No. 1 (74) Michael Venus (LSU) def. (3) Greg Ouellette (UF), 6-3, 6-4
No. 2 . Nestor Briceno (UF) def. (92) Jan Zelezny (LSU), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 (53) Alex Lacroix (UF) def. Colt Gaston (LSU), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 Kevin Dessauer (LSU) def. Jeff Dadamo (UF), 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 Tyler Hochwalt (UF) def. James Cluskey (LSU), 6-2, 7-6
No. 6 Sebastian Carlsson (LSU) def. Erik Corace (UF), 6-4, 2-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: Doubles – 3, 1, 2 Singles – 3, 4, 1, 5, 2, 6
END OF REPORT
