WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Gators enjoyed a solid day of competition on the first day of the Seahawk Fall Invite at the Porters Neck Country Club on Friday. Three Gators picked up wins in doubles and singles competition on the day, as freshman
Blaise Bicknell picked up his first career doubles and singles victory donning the blue and orange.
The day began with doubles, as two of the Gators' three doubles pair would advance to the semifinals scheduled for Saturday morning.
Brian Berdusco and Tulsa transfer
Josh Goodger, the No. 1 seed in the Flight A doubles draw, opened the fall season with a victory, dropping Coastal Carolina's Talic and Popov, 6-3, to start.
Duarte Vale and freshman
Blaise Bicknell, slated the No. 3 seed in Flight A doubles, followed suit with a 6-3 decision over Georgia Gwinnett's Nani and Nunez.
Greysen Cacciatore and
Harrison Cacciatore would slip into the backdraw of Flight B doubles, as Georgia Gwinnett's Herrera Duran and Dugo came away with a 6-4 decision to advance to Saturday's semis.
Singles competition followed after the conclusion of doubles, as
Blaise Bicknell was the lone Gator to pick up a singles win on the day and advance to the Flight A quarterfinals, despite juniors
Duarte Vale (No. 1 seed) and
Josh Goodger (No. 2 seed) advancing with byes into tomorrow's Flight A quarters.
Bicknell concluded a solid first day of competition for the Gators, defeating Georgia Gwinnett's Federic H. Duran in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
Despite their competitive efforts, Junior
Brian Berdusco and sophomores
Greysen Cacciatore and
Harrison Cacciatore would all suffer tough losses in three sets to move into the backdraws of their respective flights.
Greysen Cacciatore fell to VCU's Timo Zgraggem, 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, while Harrison was edged as a No. 3 seed by UNC Asheville's Charlie Morkel, 3-6, 6-4, 5-7, in Flight B singles.
Berdusco, slotted a No. 4 seed in Flight A singles, took the first set, 6-2, over Georgia Gwinnett's Federico Bonacia, though, Bonacia would retaliate with a 6-3 effort in the second set. Berdusco and Bonacia would exchange games in the third set, however, Bonacia would hang on for the tiebreak win, 7-6 (5), to push Berdusco into the backdraw of Flight A singles.
DAY ONE RESULTS
Flight A Doubles
No. 1
Brian Berdusco/
Josh Goodger def. Talic/Popov (CCU), 6-3
No. 3
Duarte Vale/
Blaise Bicknell def. Nani/Nunez (UNCA), 6-3
Flight B Doubles
No. 4 Herrera Duran/Dugo (GGC) def.
Greysen Cacciatore/
Harrison Cacciatore, 6-4
Flight A Singles
No. 1
Duarte Vale,
BYE
Federico Bonacia (GGC) def. No. 4
Brian Berdusco, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
Blaise Bicknell def. Federic H. Duran (GGC), 6-2, 6-4
No. 2
Josh Goodger,
BYE
Flight B Singles
Timo Zgraggem (VCU) def.
Greysen Cacciatore, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Charlie Morkel (UNCA) def. No. 3
Harrison Cacciatore, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
THOUGHTS FROM ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH TANNER STUMP:
- "Starting the season here is exactly what our guys need. We have been working hard on certain concepts in practice and it is good to see the guys put those into play in both singles and doubles, especially in critical moments."
- "As long as we continue to trust the process of our development and focus on getting a little bit better each day, we will get where we want to go. I am excited to see what our guys bring tomorrow to build on today."
UP NEXT:
Doubles semifinals matches will take place tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., followed by singles semis tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.
