TCU
#12 Florida
Horned Frogs Take Down No. 12 Florida
3/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
FORT WORTH, Texas- Tied at 3-3 in the match, senior Guillermo Nuñez rallied from a set down to clinch the overall match win as the No. 32 TCU men's tennis team upset its second straight ranked opponent with a 4-3 victory over Florida at the Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, Fla., on Wednesday night.
The Horned Frogs (9-3) came out on fire to open the match as they were tasked with facing three ranked Gator (8-6) doubles tandems including the No. 1 ranked pair in the country. The No. 41 pair of Guillermo Nuñez and Alex Rybakov struck first as the duo got their fifth straight victory with a 6-2 win over the No. 12 team of McClain Kessler and Duarte Vale on court two. A late break on court three was all that was needed to clinch the doubles point as Reese Stalder and Bertus Kruger got their fourth straight victory with a 7-5 win over No. 10 Chase Perez-Blanco and Oliver Crawford.
The momentum shifted in singles action as Florida grabbed five of the first six sets and began to control the match, but TCU did not give up the fight as five of the matches went into third sets. Stalder put point No. 2 on the board as the junior got his third ranked victory of the season with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 decision over No. 101 Andres Andrade on court five. No. 32 Rybakov revenged a loss from a season ago as the junior scored his sixth straight win with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 7 Alfredo Perez at the top spot. Florida came back to even up the match at 3-3, but Nuñez was already in control of his final set as the senior served it out for a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 68 Duarte Vale to clinch the overall match win.
Quotes from the Match
Head Coach David Roditi
"What a college match. Obviously, I am happy and regardless of the outcome Coach (Bryan) Shelton and I were commenting during the match on how what a battle it was tonight. I have so much respect for all three coaches at Florida and I couldn't be prouder of our whole team to find a win on the road against such a good squad. They were all over us right from start. We lost five first sets quickly and for us to win it would require a massive gut check and Reese (Stalder), (Alex) Rybakov and Guillermo (Nuñez) came through. I am proud of Alastair (Gray) for staying on the court and to keep giving us hope there. I am very proud of our squad. This was a hell of a college dual match. Now we get a few days off and get ready for a tough Columbia team at home."
Match Results
TCU vs Florida
3/14/2018 at Gainesville, Fla.
(Ring Tennis Complex)
#32 TCU 4, #12 Florida 3
Singles competition
1. #32 Alex Rybakov (TCU) def. #7 Alfredo Perez (UF) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. #6 Johannes Ingildsen (UF) def. #72 Trevor Johnson (TCU) 1-6, 7-6, 6-4
3. #93 Oliver Crawford (UF) def. #30 Alastair Gray (TCU) 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
4. Guillermo Nuñez (TCU) def. #68 Duarte Vale (UF) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4
5. Reese Stalder (TCU) def. #101 Andres Andrade (UF) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
6. Chase Perez-Blanco (UF) def. Bertus Kruger (TCU) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #1 Alfredo Perez/Johannes Ingildsen (UF) vs. Trevor Johnson/Alastair Gray (TCU) 5-6, unfinished
2. #41 Guillermo Nuñez/Alex Rybakov (TCU) def. #12 McClain Kessler/Duarte Vale (UF) 6-2
3. Reese Stalder/Bertus Kruger (TCU) def. #10 Chase Perez-Blanco/Oliver Crawford (UF) 7-5
Match Notes:
TCU 9-3; National ranking #32
Florida 8-6; National ranking #12
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,5,1,3,2,4)
Up Next
TCU will wrap-up spring break by returning home to the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center and welcoming Columbia on Sunday, March 18 at 11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
