By: by Mike DeGeorge
                    
                
                                            
                
                 Score: No. 11 Florida 7, Kennesaw State 0 | 
Box Score
Records: Florida (2-0), Kennesaw State (0-1)
Up Next: Saturday, Jan. 28 at Georgia Gwinnett, 1 p.m.
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Kennesaw State men's tennis team opened its 2017 spring season against the 11
th-ranked University of Florida Saturday afternoon in Gainesville and the host Gators defeated the Owls, 7-0, at the Alfred Ring Tennis Complex.
 
The Owls (0-1), who found themselves down 1-0 after the doubles matches, weren't backing down from the nationally-ranked Gators (2-0) on the road. Two of the singles matches went to a third-and-deciding set before Florida prevailed.
"The boys battled today, but Florida was too solid for us in doubles," said head coach 
Eduardo Rincon. "We started the singles very slow and tentative and it was too late once we finally settled down. Lucas and Simon played two high-level matches that came down to a point here and there. Overall I'm pleased with the way we played. We will reap the benefits of this match later this season for sure. We gained tons of experience. Now we get back to practice this week before another tough team next week."
 
In the No. 1 position, senior 
Simon Pritchard dropped his opening set to Alfred Perez 6-3 and rebounded to win 6-3 before falling in the third set. Sophomore 
Lucas de Torres Curth (No. 6) pulled out the second set with a 7-6 score but was unable to finish off the final set.
 
Kennesaw State has the week off before returning to action next Saturday at Georgia Gwinnett at 1 p.m.
 
Doubles
1 – Perez/Ingildsen (UF) def. Durham/Wendel (KSU) 6-3
2 – Lipman/Wardell (UF) def. Barcelo/Pritchard (KSU) 6-4
3 – Orkin/Kessler (UF) def. Bouchillon/Slade (KSU) 6-1
 
Singles
1 -- Alfred Perez (UF) def. 
Simon Pritchard (KSU): 6-3, 3-6, 1-0
2 -- Elliott Orkin (UF) def. 
Sam Slade (KSU): 6-3, 6-1
3 -- McCain Kessler (UF) def. 
Fermin Calvo Barcelo (KSU): 6-1, 6-2
4 -- Jordan Belga (UF) def. 
David Durham (KSU): 6-1, 6-1
5 -- Max Lipman (UF) def. 
Jake Bouchillon (KSU): 6-2, 6-1
6 -- Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. Lucas deTorres Curth (KSU): 6-1, 6-7, 1-0
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's tennis news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUMensTennis or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
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