Men’s tennis team has strong first day

The USTA/ITA Southeast Regional Championships continued Friday at Florida’s Linder Stadium/Ring Tennis Complex with three Florida singles players advancing into the Round of 32 and one doubles pair earning a place in the quarterfinals.

The singles action was highlighted by freshman Andrew Butz posting a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over the No. 9-12-seeded Cesare Gallo of Stetson. It was the first victory over a nationally ranked player by Butz as Gallo is ranked No. 108.

“I thought we came out and played OK today,” Florida coach Andy Jackson said. “This will help us tremendously the next time we host a big event like this, which we will the SEC Tournament here in April.”

Sophomores Sekou Bangoura Jr. and Bob van Overbeek both picked up victories. No. 111 Bangoura scored a 6-3, 6-2 win over Florida A&M’s Takura Happy, while No. 105 van Overbeek beat South Florida’s Yannick Yoshizawa, 6-1, 6-7, 7-6.

In doubles action, senior Alexandre Lacroix and junior Nassim Slilam blanked Miami’s Waylon Chin and Edwardo Pavia, 8-0, in the Round of 32. Lacroix and Slilam then scored an 8-5 victory against Stetson’s Maksim Levanovich and Christopher Swanteson to move into the quarterfinals.

The singles and doubles draw winners will compete in November’s USTA/ITA National Collegiate Indoor Championships at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. The ninth-ranked Lacroix is not competing in the singles draw at this weekend’s regional event as he has already qualified.

USTA/ITA SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Gainesville, Fla. / Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 / Florida results

SINGLES

Round of 64

(111) Sekou Bangoura Jr. (UF) def. Takura Happy (FAMU), 6-3, 6-2; Andrew Butz (UF) def. (108) Cesare Gallo (Stetson), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; (105) Bob van Overbeek (UF) def. Yannick Yoshizawa (USF), 6-1, 6-7, 7-6; Kevin King (Georgia Tech) def. Michael Alford (UF), 6-2, 7-5; (4) Guillermo Gomez (Georgia Tech) def. Billy Federhofer (UF), 6-4, 7-5; Mortiz Buerchner (UNF) def. Nassim Slilam (UF), 6-3, 6-3.

Round of 16

(20) Alexandre Lacroix/Nassim Slilam (UF) def. Maksim Levanovich/Christopher Swanteson (Stetson), 8-5.