By: by Mike DeGeorge
Match 16
Score: North Florida 5, Kennesaw State 2 |
Box Score | Photo Gallery
Records: Kennesaw State (10-6, 2-1), UNF (10-6, 2-1)
Up Next: Saturday, April 2 vs. Stetson, 4 p.m.
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State put up a fight against defending ASUN champion North Florida, but the Ospreys pulled out a 5-2 victory Thursday afternoon in men's tennis at the Betty Siegel Courts.
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Sophomore
Fermin Calvo Barcelo posted a singles victory for the Owls, while senior
Simon Pritchard and sophomore
Lucas de Torres Curth pulled out a 7-6 doubles over the nation's 78
th-ranked doubles pairing.
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The Owls (10-6, 2-1) saw their seven-match winning streak snapped and fell for the first time at home (8-1), while the Ospreys improved to 10-6, 2-0.
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"A tough one, but that was a great dual match," said Director of Tennis
Eduardo Rincon. "We did a good job of getting ahead in the doubles, but unfortunately we couldn't keep that going. Once they got control, they never looked back. It's tough when you lose six of six first sets in singles. I'm looking forward to getting the guys back on the court Saturday for another tough test against Stetson."
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Momentum was on the Owls side after doubles. UNF claimed the first doubles match at No. 3, but the hosts rallied with
David Durham and
Drew Wendel winning 7-6 at No. 1, followed by Pritchard and de Torres Curth pulling out the No. 1 doubles match in a tiebreaker, 7-6, over Jack Findel-Hawkins and Jeffta Kecic.
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However, UNF had the upper hand in singles play, and rallied from the 1-0 deficit to put the first four points on the board at Nos. 5, 4, 2, and 6 to clinch the victory.
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For the Owls, Calvo Barcelo knocked off reigning ASUN Player of the Week Yannick Zuern in a thriller, battling back from a set down to win 3-6, 6-2, 10-2. The sophomore from Argentina improved to 10-6 in singles play this spring and has won eight straight matches.
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The final match of the day to finish was a marquee pairing at No. 1 between Pritchard and Findel-Hawkins, ranked No. 58 nationally. Findel-Hakwins won the first set 6-3, Pritchard took the second 7-5, and the Osprey survived a back-and-fourth third set 10-8.
The Owls are back home Saturday to welcome Stetson in an ASUN match. First serve is set for 4 p.m.
Singles
1. #58 Jack Findel-Hawkins (UNF) def.
Simon Pritchard (KSU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
2. #96 Jefta Kecic (UNF) def.
Sam Slade (KSU) 6-4, 6-1
3.
Fermin Calvo Barcelo (KSU) def. Yannick Zuern (UNF) 3-6, 6-2, 10-2
4. Lasse Muscheites (UNF) def.
Lucas de Torres Curth (KSU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Sahil Deshmukh (UNF) def.
Jake Bouchillon (KSU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Jonathan Deautriell (UNF) def.
Drew Wendel (KSU) 6-3, 7-6
Doubles
1.
Simon Pritchard/
Lucas de Torres Curth (KSU) def. #78 Jack Findel-Hawkins/Jefta Kecic (UNF) 7-6
2.
David Durham/
Drew Wendel (KSU) def. Yannick Zuern/Lasse Muscheites (UNF) 7-6
3. Jonathan Deautriell/Sahil Deshmukh (UNF) def.
Fermin Calvo Barcelo/
Sam Slade (KSU) 6-3
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