FAU Wins Nearly Four-Hour Battle

Sunday, January 15

Boca Raton, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Rice

1/15/2023 6:44:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University men's tennis (1-1) opened the 2023 season on Saturday, playing a match that lasted 3:30 minutes. One day later, the Owls returned to the courts battling Rice (1-1), a fellow Conference USA member, for nearly four hours to come away with the 4-3 win.

FAU, hosting its second match of the day and fourth match of a three-day tournament, took to the courts at 1:30 p.m. knowing it would be a neck-and-neck contest. FAU fell on doubles courts one and three, but lost more than the point, with newcomer Nicolas Acevedo finishing his doubles match but not at 100 percent. He was unable to play singles.

Ricardo Gonzalez, FAU's director of tennis, moved everyone up one spot and the comeback marathon began.

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"Great team win today, " noted Gonzalez. "The boys were tough and found a way to win. We still need to improve on little details. Not pleased with doubles yet. We have great doubles, this is one of our strengths. We need to do a better job of being more present and being more active early on. We'll continue to improve from these matches. USF is another tough challenge tomorrow. The boys will be ready."

Senior Kevin Huempfner captured court one to even the match at 1-1. Newcomer Alberto Colas followed minutes later with win on court two, giving FAU its first lead of the match. Rice evened the score at 2-2 with a win on court three. It then came down to courts four through six, all taking three sets for a decision. FAU would fall 2-3 with a Rice win on court five, only to see senior Hunter Robbins come from behind to take court six 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-0.

All eyes then turned to court four, that match had just completed the first set as courts one through three were complete and the court four duo started their third and deciding set when courts five and six were complete and making their way to watch the finale. Filip Krolo, behind the cheers of both teams and spectators, closed out the match with a 6-0 third set to give the Owls the win.

FAU will return to the courts on Monday to face in-state foe USF at 1:30 p.m. or immediately following the UCSB versus Rice contest.

RESULTS

Rice vs Florida Atlantic Men's Tennis | 1/15/23 at Boca Raton, Fla. | Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center

Singles competition
1. Huempfner, Kevin (FAU-M) def. Yasha Zemel (RICE) 6-2, 6-3
2. Colas, Alberto (FAU-M) def. Santiago Navarro (RICE) 6-4, 6-3
3. Trinity Grear (RICE) def. Fernandez Horta, A (FAU-M) 6-2, 6-2
4. Krolo, Filip (FAU-M) def. Dylan Heap (RICE) 6-4, 6-7, 6-4
5. Emir Sendogan (RICE) def. Stodder, Finn (FAU-M) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. Robbins, Hunter (FAU-M) def. Wes Barnett (RICE) 3-6, 7-6, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Dylan Heap/Santiago Navarro (RICE) def. Acevedo, Nicolas/Krolo, Filip (FAU-M) 6-3
2. Huempfner, Kevin/Robbins, Hunter (FAU-M) vs. Wes Barnett/Trinity Grear (RICE) 3-5, unfinished
3. Kabeer Kapasi/Yasha Zemel (RICE) def. Colas, Alberto/Fernandez Horta, A (FAU-M) 6-4

Match Notes:
Rice 1-1 | Florida Atlantic Men's Tennis 1-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,2,3,5,6,4)
T-3:55

WATCH LIVE

Matches are played at the Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center and are free and open to the public. Seating is available and cheering is encouraged.

FOLLOW ALONG

For the Owls' complete schedule, click HERE. To follow the team socially, visit @faumtennis, or for the most up-to-date information go to www.fausports.com.