LAKELAND, Fla.—The top-seeded Barry Buccaneers rallied from 2-1 down after doubles to dominate singles and defeat second-seeded Lynn Knights 5-2 to capture the 2008 Sunshine State Conference Men’s Tennis Title at the Beerman Tennis Center in Lakeland, Fla., on Saturday.
Patrick Rittenauer (ranked #25 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s singles rankings) pulled an upset of Lorenzo Cava (ITA #6) 7-6 (5), 6-4 to clinch the title for the Buccaneers (17-4, 5th in the ITA national poll). The title was the sixth for head coach George Samuel in 17 years at the helm.
The Knights (16-5and ranked 6th in the ITA national poll) grabbed a 2-1 lead after doubles. Lynn’s Julien Carsuzaa and Diego Rodriguez (ITA #14) defeated Jakub Fejfar and Emanuel Fraitzl 8-5 at number two. Cava and Tomas Racak (ITA #22) pulled a huge upset by beating Barry’s Rittenauer and Ales Svigelj (ITA #2) 8-4 at number one.
But Andrew Sharnov and Roman Werschel battled to a 9-7 win over Alessandro Sarra and Axel Joachim at number three to save one point for the Bucs.
The Bucs got things going in singles, taking the first set at all six flights. Sharnov and Werschel quickly put the Bucs on top with win at four and five singles respectively. Sharnov defeated Rodriguez 6-3, 6-1, while Werschel took care of Sarra 6-2, 6-3.
Fejfar was carried to a tie-breaker in the second set by Joachim, but came out on top 6-4, 7-6 (2) to put the Bucs on the brink of the title.
The Bucs expect to hear on whether they will host the NCAA Regional when bids are announced on May 4.
Tennis Match Results
Lynn vs Barry
04/19/2008 at Lakeland, Fla.
(Beerman Tennis Center)
#5 Barry 5, #6 Lynn 2
Singles competition
1. #25 Patrick Rittenauer (BUM) def. #6 Lorenzo Cava (LUM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
2. #20 Ales Svigelj (BUM) vs. #12 Julien Carsuzaa (LUM) 7-5, 4-3, unfinished
3. Emanuel Fraitzl (BUM) vs. #48 Tomas Racak (LUM) 6-3, 3-6, 0-1, unfinished
4. Andrew Sharnov (BUM) def. Diego Rodriguez (LUM) 6-3, 6-1
5. Roman Werschel (BUM) def. Alessandro Sarra (LUM) 6-2, 6-3
6. Jakub Fejfar (BUM) def. Axel Joachim (LUM) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
Doubles competition
1. #22 Lorenzo Cava/Tomas Racak (LUM) def. #2 Patrick Rittenauer/Ales Svigelj (BUM) 8-4
2. #14 Julien Carsuzaa/Diego Rodriguez (LUM) def. Jakub Fejfar/Emanuel Fraitzl (BUM) 8-5
3. Andrew Sharnov/Roman Werschel (BUM) def. Alessandro Sarra/Axel Joachim (LUM) 9-7
Match Notes:
Lynn 16-5; National ranking #6
Barry 17-4; National ranking #5
Barry wins the 2008 Sunshine State Conference Men's Tennis Championship