Feb. 23, 2008

Results

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - UCF took an early 1-0 lead after earning the doubles' point, then held on for a 4-3 win over Southern Miss in the Conference USA Shootout Friday, following a two-hour rain delay.

Two of the three doubles matches had to be decided by tie breakers. UCF's Brock Sakey and Johan Beigart pulled out a 9-8 win over Andrew Poole and Markus Wessington, 9-8.

Southern Miss' Diego and Oscar Machuca fought off Tarek Ben Soltane and Danny Colón (UCF), taking a 9-8 win.

The Knights earned the point following an 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles, when Claudio Romano and Sinan Sudas defeated Domagoj Anic and Jan Burmeister.

Southern Miss (1-7) got wins at No. 1, 3, and 6 singles. Anic defeated Beigart in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, while Oscar Machuca downed Claudio Romano in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Markus Wessinghage posted a two-set win over Colon, 6-4, 6-2.

Rounding out the singles matches were Burmeister falling to Sudas, 6-4, 7-5 at No. 2. Diego Machuca lost to Sakey at No. 4 singles, 7-5, 6-2, and Ben Soltane defeated Strate Krstevski, 6-1, 6-1.

Both teams return to action Saturday with UCF playing UAB at 9 a.m., followed by the Golden Eagles taking on East Carolina at 1 p.m.