Osprey rally falls short in loss to Troy

Saturday, February 9

Troy, Ala.

12:00 p.m.

University of North Florida

Troy

Javier Ferrin won at No. 2 singles for the Ospreys

2/10/2008 12:37:00 AM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

UNF battles back from early deficit, still loses 4-3

By: Tom Strother, UNF Athletics

TROY, Ala. - The University of North Florida men's tennis team couldn't bounce back after posting one of its biggest wins since moving to Division I only 24 hours earlier -- falling 4-3 to Troy at the Lunsford Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The Ospreys (2-2) dug themselves into an early hole by losing the doubles point by dropping all three matches. The previously undefeated UNF duo of Kurt Gattiker and Eduardo Pereira lost 8-6 at the No. 2 position to Troy's Guilherme Sahadi and Dai Edward- Evans, dropping the duo's season record to 6-1. The doubles point gave the Trojans (2-2) the early 1-0 advantage.

In singles, the Ospreys' rally came close but fell just short. Pereira and Javier Ferrin won at the top two spots, respectively, and freshman Adrian Escarate picked up his second win in dual play for UNF by taking out Troy's Andrey Morozov 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 5 position to tie the score at three wins apiece. UNF lost heartbreakers at the Nos. 4 and 6 spots, however, falling despite forcing the matches to three sets. The Ospreys served for match point in the second set at No. 6, where UNF's Alejandro Argumedo lost to Edwin Van Aerts, 4-6, 7-5 (5), 6-1, but Van Aerts was able to rally and force the third and decisive set, which he won to give the Trojans the team victory as well.

UNF knocked off 29th-ranked South Alabama 4-3 on Friday night in a six-hour match in Mobile.

"We came out with a clear game plan to beat Troy," UNF head coach Igal Buberman said. "We expected to dominate at the top 2 positions and to get at least one more point at No. 3 or 4. Unfortunately the intensity and the focus were not there in the middle of the lineup. We are a young team with a lot of work ethic and will power, but we are still learning how to compete together. We have a lot of room to improve. We took this weekend as a great learning experience and made some major improvements in our squad. We are very excited about this season and are ready to take on the challenges that come next.."

The Ospreys return to action next Saturday when they play host to Florida Atlantic at the UNF Tennis Complex. Match time is set for noon.

Troy 4, North Florida 3

Singles competition
1. Eduardo Pereira (UNF) def. Benjamin Chomette (TROY) 6-4, 6-2
2. Javier Ferrin (UNF) def. Mario Silva (TROY) 6-1, 6- 2
3. Guilherme Sahadi (TROY) def. Graham Edgar (UNF) 6-1, 6-3
4. Bastian Maucher (TROY) def. Kurt Gattiker (UNF) 6- 3, 5-7, 6-2
5. Adrian Escarate (UNF) def. Andrey Morozov (TROY) 6-3, 6-2
6. Edwin Van Aerts (TROY) def. Alejandro Argumedo (UNF) 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Benjamin Chomette/Mario Silva (TROY) def. Yuiti Lopes/Alejandro Argumedo (UNF) 8-4
2. Guilherme Sahadi/Dai Edward-Evans (TROY) def. Eduardo Pereira/Kurt Gattiker (UNF) 8-6
3. Bastian Maucher/Andrey Morozov (TROY) def. Javier Ferrin/Adrian Escarate (UNF) 8-4

Match Notes:
North Florida 2-2
Troy 2-2