(DeLand, Fla.) ? The Stetson men's tennis team defeated former conference rival UCF 5-2 Thursday afternoon at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center. It was the Hatters (17-6, 6-2 A-Sun) sixth straight victory.
“We played our best match of the season today against a team that has been ranked pretty much all year,” head coach Pierre Pilote said. “To follow up our great weekend with such a performance with only one practice to get ready is such an accomplishment for this team.”
UCF had just fallen out of the rankings, after eight consecutive weeks in which the Knights reached as high as No. 62. This is the second straight year the Hatters have upended their old rival.
“Two consecutive victories over our old conference rivals is such a great feat,” Pilote said. “They are always well-coached and prepared, which makes it a yearly challenge for us.”
Freshman Hicham Laalej once again spurred the victory. After Stetson dropped the double point, Laalej made quick work of Sinan Sudas 6-3, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles competition. Filip Kricka was also a straight sets winner, defeating Tarek Ben Soltane 6-1, 6-3.
“Again, I am so proud of the this team,” Pilote said. “They worked so hard through all the injuries this season and to see them playing with such heart for our school is the best feeling a coach can have.”
The Hatters have one final regular season match against Florida Tech on Thursday, April 12 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center.
“Now we will rest for the next couple of days and begin our preparation for the Atlantic Sun Championship,” Pilote said.
Results
Central Florida vs Stetson University
4/5/2007 at DeLand, Fla.
Stetson University 5, Central Florida 2
Singles competition
1. LAALEJ, Hicham (STET) def. SUDAS, Sinan (UCF) 6-3, 6-1
2. ECHTLER, Marcus (STET) def. BEIGART, Johan (UCF) 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
3. KRICKA, Filip (STET) def. BEN SOLTANE, Tarek (UCF) 6-1, 6-3
4. BOULANOV, Serguei (STET) def. ALCANTARA, Norman (UCF) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
5. SAKEY, Brock (UCF) def. JONES, Joey (STET) 6-3, 6-4
6. STAMP, Daniel (STET) def. ROESCH, Jimmy (UCF) 6-7, 6-2, retired
Doubles competition
1. ECHTLER, Marcus/KRICKA, Filip (STET) def. ALCANTARA, Norman/SAKEY, Brock (UCF) 8-6
2. GURSOY, Ener/BEIGART, Johan (UCF) def. JONES, Joey/BOULANOV, Serguei (STET) 8-2
3. SUDAS, Sinan/ROESCH, Jimmy (UCF) def. DZUBA, Peter/LAALEJ, Hicham (STET) 8-5
Match Notes:
Central Florida 12-9
Stetson University 17-6
