The squads used NAIA rules and as a result, each doubles contest counted as a point. Embry-Riddle (16-5) is ranked third nationally in NAIA. The match was delayed on three occasions due to rain.
The contest served as the final home match for UCF’s three seniors – Johan Beigart (Vaxjo, Sweden), Marc Rocafort (Barcelona, Spain) and Brock Sakey (Gulf Breeze, Fla.)
UCF dominated at the top of the lineup in singles as Rocafort (6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 over Jan Hoekzema) and Sakey (6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 over Alexis Heugas) registered quick victories. Beigart was also victorious in his final match in Orlando, topping Istvan Bolgar, 7-6 (4), 6-1, at No. 5.
Junior Blaze Schwartz (Pensacola, Fla.), sophomore Claudio Romano (Valencia, Venezuela) and freshman Mario Samson (Miami, Fla.) also picked up singles wins for the hosts.
“I thought we did a great job remaining focused today and dealing with three rain delays and a talented squad from Embry-Riddle,” UCF head coach Bobby Cashman said. “We have really learned a great deal from all of our matches this year and that has shown in our last three matches. We are looking forward to the start of the C-USA tournament next week.”
In doubles, Rocfort and Schwartz were 8-6 winners at the top spot over Hoekzema and Heugas. Facing Bolgar and Peter Francis at No. 2, Beigart and sophomore Joe Delinks (Falmouth, Mass.) rolled to an 8-1 victory. Sakey and Romano were too much for Charlie Rice and Zander Woodford-Smith, as the Knights won 8-5 at No. 3.
With the win, UCF improved to 6-2 at home in 2010.
The Knights will now have more than a week to prepare for the C-USA Championship, which will begin April 22 in Houston. UCF’s first match at the event should come on April 23.