ETSU improves to 10-4 with victory over Phoenix

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 17, 2019) – Following a tough loss on Friday, the ETSU Bucs Men’s Tennis team bounced back with a thrilling 5-2 victory over Elon on Sunday at the Dave Mullins Tennis Complex. With the win, ETSU improves to 10-4 on the season, while dropping the Phoenix to 11-4.

Frazier Rengifo (Cali, Colombia) and Yusuf Khamis (Cairo, Egypt) got things started on the right track for the Bucs with a 6-1 victory over Camilo Ponce and Kyle Frankel in the No. 2 doubles slot. Shortly after their convincing win, Sergi Fontcuberta (Barcelona, Spain) and David Gonzalez (Barcelona, Spain) sealed the doubles point with a 6-2 win in the No. 3 doubles position over Dino Bonetta and Taylor Foote.

Elon picked up the first singles win of the match from the No. 3 slot with a 6-2, 6-3 victory to even the match at 1-1. However, the Bucs reclaimed their lead after Miguel Este (Caracas, Venezuela) cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Foote in the No. 6 singles hole. ETSU pulled within one of clinching the match from the top singles position as Rengifo bested Felipe Sarrasague in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. Moments later, Khamis sealed the match for the Blue & Gold from the fifth singles position with a straight set triumph over Ponce, 7-6 (8-4), 6-1.

With the match already clinched, the Bucs split the final two singles matches as Fontcuberta picked up a thrilling, three-set victory over Mario Paccini in the No. 2 singles slot, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

ETSU will return to the court on March 22 when the Bucs welcome Southern Conference foe, Furman, into town for a 2 p.m. showdown. ETSU will then turn around to host Samford on Sunday, March 24 at 1 p.m.

Singles competition 

1. Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) def. Felipe Sarrasague (Elon), 7-5, 6-2
2. Sergi Fontcuberta (ETSU) def. Mario Paccini (Elon), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
3. Felipe Osses-Konig (Elon) def. Juan Lugo (ETSU), 6-2, 6-3
4. Kyle Frankel (Elon) def. David Gonzalez (ETSU), 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(8)
5. Yusuf Khamis (ETSU) def. Camilo Ponce (Elon), 7-6(4), 6-1
6. Miguel Este (ETSU) def. Taylor Foote (Elon), 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Juan Lugo/Chris Mikrovas (ETSU) vs. Felipe Sarrasague/Mario Paccini (Elon), 4-3 unfinished
2. Yusuf Khamis/Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) def. Camilo Ponce/Kyle Frankel (Elon), 6-1
3. Sergi Fontcuberta/David Gonzalez (ETSU) def. Dino Bonetta/Taylor Foote (Elon), 6-2

Match Notes: ETSU 10-4; Elon 11-4

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,6,1,5,2,4)

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For more information on Buccaneer men’s tennis visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s tennis page.