BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Florida Atlantic men's tennis team hopes to cap off a tremendous week this Friday when they play host to North Florida Friday, March 1. First serve at the Kimberly V. Strauss Tennis Center is scheduled for 11 a.m.
The Owls began the week by avenging a 4-3 2023 loss to UTSA in the Conference USA semifinals with a 4-1 win on Sunday. The Florida Atlantic doubles team of
Alberto Colas and
Juan Martin Jalif got the winning ball rolling with a 6-0 shutout over the UTSA #1 doubles duo who were ranked No. 29 nationally. Jalif then marched to a 6-3, 6-4 win on court #2. His combined two wins earned the Salta, Argentina native American Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors on Tuesday. Shortly after the Player of the Week announcement, the ITA announced the Owls moved up six spots to No. 35 nationally in this week's poll.
Jalif has tallied an impressive 8-1 2024 singles record playing on courts four (5-0), three (2-1) and most recently two (1-0). Fellow transfer
John Bernard, who also had an outstanding UTSA match, holds a 7-1 record also built across three courts, while court #1 has been exclusive to
Alberto Colas. Colas holds a 7-2 record on the top court while he and Jalif are 7-2 in doubles play.
Doubles play continues to be a strength for the Owls. Their .621 doubles winning percentage rivals the successful seasons of 2021-22 (.667) and 2018-19 (.652). Along with the Colas / Jalif duo,
Jiri Jenicek is 8-4 in dual match play and 11-4 overall while
Simon Myslivec is 8-3 and 10-4 overall in doubles competition
Friday's match will be the first meeting between the two schools since January of 2019. Florida Atlantic captured that match by a 4-1 score and improved their all-time record versus UNF to 6-5.
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UP NEXT
The Owls head to California for a 4 p.m. EST Sunday, Mar. 3 match versus Oregon and will then play host UCSB on Monday, Mar. 4 at 1 p.m. EST. Visit
HERE for a complete schedule.
WATCH LIVE
Home 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
To follow the team socially, visit @faumtennis, or for the most up-to-date information go to
www.fausports.com.