Feb. 12, 2010
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| Singles | | | Lacroix | DNF | #1 | DNF | Lukacs | | Burkhardt |
| #2 | 6-2, 7-5 | Rux | | Benneteau | 6-2, 6-4 | #3 |
| Bucko | | Van Overbeek |
| #4 | 6-2, 6-1 | Mueller | | Bangoura | 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 | #5 |
| Maytin | | Slilam | 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
| #6 |
| Horny |
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| Doubles | | | Benneteau/Lacroix | 9-8(3) | #1 | | Maytin/Rux
| | Burhkardt/Bangoura | 8-5 | #2 | | Horny/Lukacs
| | Van Overbeek/Cash |
| #3 | 8-6 | Bley/Bucko |
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- The sixth-ranked men's tennis team started the 2010 ITA National Men's Team Indoor Championship with a 4-2 loss to 11th-ranked Florida on Friday at the Boar's Head Sports Club.
"Florida deserved to win," head coach Matt Knoll said. "What is great about team tennis is that you win as a team and you lose as a team. We lost as a team. We had a lot of opportunities. We just feel like we left a lot on the table."
In doubles, the Gators opened up by coming from behind at the No. 2 spot as Joseph Burhardt and Sekou Bangoura beat Maros Horny and Denes Lukacs, 8-5. Baylor responded as Attila Bucko and Julian Bley got past Bob Van Overbeek and Daniel Cash, 8-6 leaving the doubles point up in the air. Florida would take the point as the 10th-ranked duo of Antoine Benneteau and Alexandre Lacroix squeaked past Roberto Maytin and Jordan Rux 9-8(3).
"Obviously, we lost a tiebreaker at one doubles that was close," Knoll said. "But even more than that I thought our two team...if there was a key match, it was two doubles in my mind. We are up a break at one stage and just did not do a good job there - that is one we really needed today."
It was the first time this season that the Bears had lost the doubles point.
In singles, the Bears would tie the match at one point apiece after Dominik Mueller crushed Van Overbeek 6-2, 6-1. Benneteau put the Gators back on top with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Bucko. It was Bucko's first loss of the dual match season, moving his record to 4-1. The 11th-ranked Rux would again square the match for Baylor with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Burkhardt.
"We had some great performances," Knoll said. "Dominik had a dominating performance at four which was great and Jordan did a great job at two."
However, Baylor was never able to take the lead in the match as Bangoura took down Maytin 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 5 spot and Nassim Slilam got by Horny at the sixth position 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
"We kind of faded at five and six with both guys losing in the third," Knoll said. "To be fair I thought their (Florida's) guys played well. We were maybe a little too passive. We just did not do a good job of being aggressive with our shots, but also not being aggressive with our mindset and aggressive with the way we handled ourselves. That is something we just have to get better at and come back tomorrow against another good team and hopefully be better."
Lukacs was leading his match at No. 1 over the seventh-ranked Lacroix when Florida claimed the match.
Baylor now falls to 5-1 on the year, while Florida raises its record to 5-1. The Bears still lead the all-time series 5-4, but the Gators have taken four of the last six. It was the first win for Florida against Baylor at a neutral site as the Bears had won the first two such meetings.
The Bears will now face 16th-ranked and 14th-seeded Louisville at 9 a.m. (ET) on Saturday at the Boar's Head Sports Club. The Cardinals lost to No. 3 Ohio State on Friday, 4-2 and are now 7-1 on the season. Saturday's match up will be the first ever between Baylor and Louisville on the tennis court.
"I think it is a huge advantage," Knoll said of playing another tough match tomorrow. "Tennis is a competition sport. You need to play and to get a chance to play another great team is great. We have an opportunity to improve and hopefully get a win and build on that for the next match. The only way to get experience is by playing these matches and tomorrow will be a big challenge for us."
