TAMPA, Fla. — Stetson University (4-4) fell to the University of South Florida (3-6) with a final score of 1-6 on Friday at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. The Hatters secured their lone point by winning two out of three doubles matches.

Stetson secured the doubles point against the Bulls with victories on courts one and three. Xavier Sarda Marti and James Lorenzetti earned a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles over Stepan Mruzek and Timeo Gaillard, while Alexandre Verlaguet and Kartik Mandla followed with a 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles against Hugo Car and Max Mroz. The Bulls claimed the match at No. 2 doubles, where Toto Llanes and James Newton defeated Christian Kuehne and Santiago Padilla Cote 6-1.

In singles, the Bulls quickly responded with a win at No. 1 singles as Hugo Car defeated Verlaguet 6-4, 6-1. The host team added another point at No. 5 singles when Gughi Verdese posted a 6-2, 6-4 decision over Padilla Cote. At No. 4 singles, Agustin Cuellar extended the Bulls' lead, defeating Lorenzetti 6-4, 6-1.

Mruzek clinched the match for the Bulls at No. 3 singles, overcoming Sarda Marti 7-6(7), 6-1. Llanes added to the tally with a 7-6(8), 6-3 victory over Mihnea Maftei at No. 6 singles. The final singles match concluded with Elijah Cham defeating Kuehne 6-2, 7-5 at No. 2 singles, completing the Bulls' sweep in singles play.

Doubles
Alexandre Verlaguet/Kartik Mandla (STET) def. Hugo Car/Max Mroz (USFM) 6-3
Toto Llanes/James Newton (USFM) def. Christian Kuehne/Santiago Padilla Cot (STET) 6-1
Xavier Sarda Marti/James Lorenzetti (STET) def. Stepan Mruzek/Timeo Gaillard (USFM) 6-3

Singles
Hugo Car (USFM) def. Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) 6-4, 6-1
Elijah Cham (USFM) def. Christian Kuehne (STET) 6-2, 7-5
Stepan Mruzek (USFM) def. Xavier Sarda Marti (STET) 7-6(4), 6-1
Agustin Cuellar (USFM) def. James Lorenzetti (STET) 6-4, 6-1
Gughi Verdese (USFM) def. Santiago Padilla Cote (STET) 6-2, 6-4
Toto Llanes (USFM) def. Mihnea Maftei (STET) 7-6(6), 6-3

WORDS FROM COACH
"I was proud of our team winning the doubles point on the road against a strong team," said Coach John Shade. "We had some very close first set losses and weren't able to overcome that. We will use this as a learning experience and look forward to our next match."

UP NEXT
The Hatters will return home to the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center where they will host Embry-Riddle on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 10:00 AM.

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.