MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry University men's tennis team opened the 2014 season with an 8-1 win over Florida Tech Tuesday at Buccaneer Tennis Center.
Ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II, the defending national champs took care of business in the Sunshine State Conference opener, beating the No. 43-ranked Panthers in straight sets in five of the six singles matches. Barry swept the doubles matches, fighting off a few challenges from the improved Panthers' squad.
At No. 1 doubles, the Buccaneers No. 14-ranked pair of Fabian Groetsch and Ahmed Triki defeated Patrick Hernandez and Wade Ball, 8-4. Leo Vivas and Renato Lombardi were 8-3 winners over Matic Leskovar and Beau Fieldsend, 8-3, in the No. 2 flight. Kevin Sielmann and Nico Dreer beat Daniel Armellino and Jose Martinez, 8-4, at No. 3.
Ranked No. 41 in the country, Sielmann defeated Ball, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. Lombardi cruised past Fieldsend, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3. Barry's Eduardo Alfonzo rolled past Martinez, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 6.
Hernandez gutted out a 6-7, 7-6, 10-8 win over the 37th-ranked Vivas at No. 1 singles.
A freshman, Dreer won his first singles match as a Buccaneer in a dual match, beating Leskovar, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 2 singles. Franco Echenique, who sat out last year, also collected his first dual match singles victory with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Armellino at No. 5.
The Bucs will host No. 27 Valdosta State at 3 p.m. Friday.