Men's Tennis Splits Matches with Florida Atlantic and #15 Florida State

Jan. 28, 2007

Tallahassee, Fla. - The Furman men's tennis team got its first win of the young 2007 season, knocking off Florida Atlantic, 4-3, before falling to the host Florida State Seminoles, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Speicher Tennis Center. The Paladins (1-2) won the doubles point against FAU on Saturday afternoon and returned to the courts on Sunday to win three singles matches and secure the victory.

Furman's number one doubles combination of junior Andy Sobczyk and senior Ryan Friend rolled to an 8-2 win over Florida Atlantic's Mauricio Paiz and J.P. Bounassar. Sophomore Andy Juc and Scott Kahler battled to an 8-6 victory over FAU's Daniel Vardag and Eddie Majcher to secure the doubles point for the Paladins. Juc and Kahler, who went 15-1 as a doubles combo in 2006, are 2-1 this season.

In singles competition against the Owls, rookie Jordan Walters recorded his first victory in a Paladin uniform, defeating Vardag, 6-3, 6-1, at the number four position. Sophomore Daniel Knause and senior Chris Gilli also notched wins for the Paladins against FAU.

Furman took on Florida State, Paladin head coach Paul Scarpa's alma mater, in the final match of the weekend. Sophomore Bo Ladyman and senior Brian Crook prevailed at number two doubles for the Paladins, but the Seminoles recorded wins at number one and three to take the 1-0 advantage heading into singles play. Florida State singles wins at number two, six and three gave the fifteenth-ranked Seminoles their fourth win of the season.

Furman continues its seven-match road swing with a trip to Gainesville, Fla., where the Paladins will challenge the No. 17 Florida Gators on Friday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m.

Furman 4, Florida Atlantic 3
Doubles
1. Andy Sobczyk/Ryan Friend (FU) def. Mauricio Paiz/J.P. Bounassar (FAU) 8-2
2. Andy Juc/Scott Kahler (FU) def. Daniel Vardag/Eddie Majcher (FAU) 8-6
3. Bo Ladyman/Brian Crook (FU) vs. Karol Szmurlo/Corey Smith (FAU) DNF

Singles
1. Oliver Sajous (FAU) def. Juc (FU) 6-0, 6-2
2. Smith (FAU) def. Sobczyk (FU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Daniel Knause (FU) def. Szmurlo (FAU) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2
4. Jordan Walters (FU) def. Vardag (FAU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Majcher (FAU) def. Mike Kociecki (FU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Chris Gilli (FU) def. Lawrence Hanadine (FAU) 6-4, 6-2


Florida State 5, Furman 0
Doubles
1. Ytai Abougzir/Jean-Yves Aubone (FSU) def. Ryan Friend/Andy Sobczyk (FU) 8-4
2. Bo Ladyman/Brian Crook (FU) def. Andrew Bailey/Maciek Sykut (FSU) 8-2
3. Jonathas Sucupira/Bradley Mixson (FSU) def. Andy Juc/Scott Kahler (FU) 8-5

Singles
1. Aubone (FSU) vs. Juc (FU) DNF
2. Abougzir (FSU) def. Sobczyk (FU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Sucupira (FSU) def. Daniel Knause (FU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Sykut (FSU) def. Jordan Walters (FU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Chris Cloer (FSU) vs. Chris Gilli (FU) DNF
6. Mixson (FSU) def. Kocieki (FU) 6-1, 6-4