Gators earn first-round SEC tennis bye

The sixth-ranked Florida men’s tennis team posted a 6-1 Senior Day victory over South Carolina Saturday afternoon at the Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex.

The Gators (17-3, 9-1 SEC) earned a first-round bye for the upcoming SEC Tournament at Kentucky. Florida will play Friday in the quarterfinals.

“We played a disciplined match today,” Florida coach Andy Jackson said after his team beat the Gamecocks (9-12, 1-10 SEC). “We’re looking forward to a big weekend at the SEC Tournament.”

Florida won the doubles point. The 11th-ranked team of Antoine Benneteau and Alexandre Lacroix downed No. 29 Pedro Campos and Diego Cubas, 8-5, and the No. 3 doubles team of Daniel Cash and Bob Van Overbeek got the clinching points with a 9-7 victory over South Carolina’s Alexander Kostanov and Johannes Pulsfort at No. 3 doubles.

Cash, who along with Benneteau was honored as seniors, served out his clinching doubles match.

“Doubles are going to be very important in SECs and NCAAs,” Cash said. “Bob and I have had some wins against some great teams, so hopefully when everything is on the line we’ll be able to pull through. Our experience from earlier matches will help us out.”

Benneteau and Lacroix were also the first to get Florida on the board in singles action. At No. 3 singles, Benneteau claimed his point with a 6-4, 6-4 victory, and one minute later fourth-ranked Lacroix beat No. 31 Campos, 6-3, 6-3. That made it 3-0 Florida but the clinching point would not come for nearly another hour as the four remaining singles matches went to a third set.

After Joey Burkhardt lost at No. 2 singles, Van Overbeek got the clinching point at No. 4, beating Alexander Kostanov, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-4. Shortly afterward, Sekou Bangoura beat Ivan Machado, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, to make it 5-1. Nassim Slilam earned the final point at No. 6 when South Carolina’s Johannes Pulsfort retired.

“Our focus was good,” Bangoura said. “We wanted to go out and fight for the win. We know we’ll be in contention for the SEC Tournament next week, and matches like this help us stay focused.”

No. 6 FLORIDA 6, SOUTH CAROLINA 1

At Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex, Gainesville, Fla.

DOUBLES

1. (11) Antoine Benneteau-Alexandre Lacroix (F) def. (29) Pedro Campos-Diego Cubas, 8-5; 2. (49) Sekou Bangoura Jr.-Joey Burkhardt (F) def. Ivan Cressoni-Ivan Machado, 9-8 (5); 3. Daniel Cash-Bob Van Overbeek (F) def. Alexander Kostanov-Johannes Pulsfort, 9-7. Order of finish: 1, 3, 2. Florida wins doubles point, 3-0.

SINGLES

1. (4) Alexandre Lacroix (F) def. (31) Pedro Campos, 6-3, 6-3; 2. (67) Diego Cubas (SC) def. (96) Joey Burkhardt, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4; 3. Antoine Benneteau (F) def. Ivan Cressoni, 6-4, 6-4; 4. Bob Van Overbeek (F) def. Alexander Kostanov, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-4; 5. Sekou Bangoura Jr. (F) def. Ivan Machado, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; 6. Nassim Slilam (F) def. Johannes Pulsfort, 3-6, 7-5, 5-2 (retired). Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.

Records: South Carolina 9-12, 1-10 SEC East; Florida 17-3, 9-1 SEC.