Florida Gators
SEC Tournament (South Carolina)
Men's Tennis Shuts Out South Carolina In SEC Quarterfinals
Friday, April 18, 2008 | Men's Tennis
The University of Florida men's tennis team opened play at the 2008 Southeastern Conference Tournament by shutting out South Carolina, 4-0, in the quarterfinal round Friday afternoon in Fayetteville, Ark. With the win, UF advanced to the semifinals of the event for the sixth-straight season and the 12th time in school history.
"We had an advantage today since South Carolina played a very physical match yesterday," said UF head coach Andy Jackson. "We were sharp and disciplined and took advantage of having a first-round bye, which we earned. We have a lot to gain tomorrow and we are looking forward to playing."
Florida, ranked 12th nationally, moved to 14-6 on the year. With the loss, South Carolina slipped to 11-13overall. The 4-0 win marked the first time UF blanked an opponent in the event since a meeting in the 2004 quarterfinals with the Gamecocks in Nashville, Tenn.
UF will meet the winner of Friday's last quarterfinal match between No. 3 ranked Georgia and No. 31 Vanderbilt. Saturday's semifinal will begin at 3 p.m. ET as the Gators go for their first appearance in the championship of the event since winning the tournament in 2005.
Florida, which defeated South Carolina (4-3) to end the regular season on Saturday, April 12, won the doubles point this time with wins at the top and bottom of the order.
Jeff Dadamo and Greg Ouellette (No. 41 nationally) teamed on the number one court to take out Pedro Campos and Johannes Pulsfort, 8-3. Tyler Hochwalt and Geoffrey Barton gave the Gators the 1-0 lead with an 8-4 showing against Thomas Stoddard and Yevgeny Supeko on court three.
In singles play, UF picked up straight set victories to earn the win. Nestor Briceno (No. 120) defeated Diego Cubas on court two, 6-2, 6-0. With the win, Briceno improved to 12-7 in dual matches this season.
Alex Lacroix (No. 67) got Florida to within one of the victory with a 6-1, 6-4 performance against Campos on court three. Lacroix, who had dropped the regular season meeting with Campos in straight sets, also picked up his 12th win of the dual match season.
Hochwalt provided the clincher as he knocked off Johannes Pulsfort on court four, 6-3, 6-2. Hochwalt improved his record to 17-3 on the year, which leads all Gators.
College Men's Tennis
George M. Billingsley Tennis Center
Fayetteville, Ark.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Final Score: Florida 4, South Carolina 0
Doubles
No. 1 (41) Jeff Dadamo-Greg Ouellette (UF) def. Pedro Campos-Johannes Pulsfort (USC), 8-3
No. 2 Nestor Briceno-Alex Lacroix (UF) vs. Diegoe Cubas-Ivan Cressoni (USC), 7-7 (DNF)
No. 3 Tyler Hochwalt-Geoffrey Barton (UF) def. Thomas Stoddard-Yevgeny-Supeko (USC), 8-4
Singles
No. 1 (2) Greg Ouellette (UF) vs. (116) Yevgeny Supeko (USC), 3-6, 6-1 (DNF)
No. 2 (120) Nestor Briceno (UF) def. Diego Cubas (USC), 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 (67) Alex Lacroix (UF) def. Pedros Campos (USC), 6-1, 6-4
No. 4 Tyler Hochwalt (UF) def. Johannes Pulsfort (USC), 6-3, 6-2
No. 5 Johnny Hamui (UF) vs. Jaime Cullar (USC), 6-2, 4-2 (DNF)
No. 6 Erik Corace (UF) vs. Ivan Cressoni (USC), 6-3, 3-1 (DNF)
Order of Finish: Doubles – 1, 3 Singles –2, 3, 4
END OF REPORT
