BOCA RATON, Fla.—Strong singles play powered the third-ranked Barry University men’s tennis team to their second straight SSC championship on Saturday afternoon as the Bucs beat second-ranked Lynn 5-3 at the McCusker Sports Complex.
With the win the Bucs claim their seventh SSC crown, second most in league history.
Finding themselves on the wrong end of a doubles split, the Bucs needed four singles wins to claim the victory. Barry won its lone doubles point in the third position as Jakub Fejfar and Sergio Velez won 8-5 over Axel Joachim and Alex Voirin.
Singles play would be the difference for Barry as the Bucs won four of five matches, leaving the number one match unfinished.
Fejfar added tied the match with a 7-5, 6-0 decision in the sixth flight over Joachim while #46 Andrew Sharnov followed suit with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in the third spot over Alessandro Sarra.
In the fourth flight, Lynn’s Luca Pavanelli beat Max Wimmer 7-5, 6-3 to knot the match at 3-3.
Both of Barry’s other matches needed three sets to complete. Roman Werschel collected the fourth team point with a 6-0, 1-6, 7-5 win over Voirin in the fifth position and Emanuel Fraitzl, ranked 20th, clinched the title with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory in the second spot over 19th-ranked Tomas Racak. The win for Fraitzl avenged a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Racak in the regular season match.
With the win, the Bucs avenged a 5-4 regular season loss to Lynn (16-3) and automatically qualify for the NCAA South Regional tournament on Thursday, May 7.
Tennis Match Results
Barry vs Lynn
04/18/09 at Boca Raton, Fla.
(McCusker Sports Complex)
#3 Barry 5, #2 Lynn 3
Singles competition
1. #4 Julien Carsuzaa (LUM) vs. #5 Ales Svigelj (BUM) 4-6, 6-3, 6-6 (8-8), unfinished
2. #20 Emanuel Fraitzl (BUM) def. #19 Tomas Racak (LUM) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
3. #46 Andrew Sharnov (BUM) def. Alessandro Sarra (LUM) 6-1, 6-3
4. Luca Pavanelli (LUM) def. Max Wimmer (BUM) 7-5, 6-3
5. Roman Werschel (BUM) def. Alex Voirin (LUM) 6-0, 1-6, 7-5
6. Jakub Fejfar (BUM) def. Axel Joachim (LUM) 7-5, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Julien Carsuzaa/Alessandro Sarra (LUM) def. #4 Emanuel Fraitzl/Max Wimmer (BUM) 8-2
2. Tomas Racak/Luca Pavanelli (LUM) def. #12 Ales Svigelj/Andrew Sharnov (BUM) 8-6
3. Jakub Fejfar/Sergio Velez (BUM) def. Axel Joachim/Alex Voirin (LUM) 8-5
Match Notes:
Barry 22-2; National ranking #3
Lynn 16-3; National ranking #2
Sunshine State Conference Tournament - Match #7 (Finals)
Barry wins SSC Championship