UCF falls in quarterfinals

A few things fell into place, but not quite everything, as the UCF Knights men’s tennis team came up just short against No. 23 Tulsa in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship on Friday, falling 4-3.

The ninth-seeded Knights would have been only the second squad to defeat the top seed in the tournament in the quarterfinals, but a furious rally by the Golden Hurricane (16-8) meant it was not to be for UCF (10-13).

The programs split down the middle in singles play, 3-3, with the match ultimately being decided in doubles play. Tulsa took two of the three doubles matches and the win.

UCF’s Jorge Blasco, Mario Samson and Joe Delinks picked up singles wins.

“I am very proud of our effort,” UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said in a release. “Our guys left it all out there today, and I am very proud of them. We are clearly heading in the right direction and battling against a top-25 team today proves that.”

The loss marked the Knights’ exit from the conference championships, which UCF was hosting, and the end of the season.

The Knights will lose only two seniors. Delinks and Eugene Dolgovykh both played their last matches as Knights in the near-upset of the Golden Hurricane.

Women’s tennis falls in quarterfinals

The UCF Knights women’s tennis team could not build off of a first-round victory over SMU, falling in the second round of the C-USA Championship to Rice, 4-0.

The Knights’ exit from the tournament, held in Memphis, means the team concluded with a 10-11 record.

Rice (15-7) is No. 40 in the nation and was the second-seeded team in the championship.

Head coach Stephanie Nickitas’ program will lose three seniors following this season. Taylor Dubins, Alexis Rodriguez and Andrea Yacaman all played their final matches as Knights on Friday.