2008 Season Stats | 2008 Singles Rankings | 2008 Doubles Rankings | 2008 Team Rankings

Tampa, Fla. -  For the first time this season, the University of South Florida men's tennis team came back to earn a hard-fought victory after dropping the doubles point. The Bulls defeated the Furman Paladins, 6-1, Tuesday afternoon at the USF varsity tennis courts.

Down 1-0 after doubles competition, the Bulls (4-3) responded by winning all six singles match en route to a 6-1, victory. The Bulls accomplished this feat without their No. 1 player, Mahmoud Hamed, who was out of the lineup. USF's freshman trio of Jamal Adderley, Lucas Jovita and Michael Nusslein picked up victories on the afternoon.

“It was a good sign when you can come back from dropping the doubles point when your No. 1 player is out and half the team is battling the flu,” said head coach Don Barr. “Good teams can fight through adversity and today, they passed the test.

Adderley clinched the match for the No. 55-ranked Bulls at the No. 2 position where he defeated Daniel Knause, 6-2, 6-1.

“He (Knause) didn't have many weapons in his arsenal,” said Adderley who recorded five aces on the afternoon. “I came out and played my game and made sure I took advantage of his weak second serve.”

The win was his first at the No. 2 spot and improves his dual match record to 5-3 on the season.

Newly-ranked Jovita was off the court first for the Bulls, defeating Andy Juc in under one hour, 6-1, 6-4. With the absence of Hamed, Jovita, ranked No. 67 according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, moved up to the top singles spot to earn his second victory at that position on the season.

Nusslein put on a clinic at the No. 4 spot, downing the Paladin's Chris Motes, 6-4, 6-0 at the No. 4 spot. The freshman from Bad Waldsee, Germany fought through the flu to pick up his fifth victory of the season.

“I thought I served the ball really well,” said Nusslein. “I kept the ball in the game and I forced my opponent to make the mistake. I'm really pleased with the way I played this afternoon.”

The Bulls will return to the USF Varisty Tennis Courts on Thursday, Feb. 28 to take on BIG EAST foe St. John's. Their last meeting on March 7, 2007 ended in a 6-1 USF victory. The first serve is set for 2 p.m.

NCAA Men's Tennis
No. 55 USF 6, Furman 1
USF Varsity Tennis Courts
Tampa, Fla.

Doubles
1. Estrada/Daudt (USF) def. Rhyne/Chvestov (FU), 8-5
2. Juc/Motes (FU) def. Jovita/Nusslein (USF), 8-6
3. Ladyman/Basile (FU) def. Adderly/Toledo (USF), 8-3

Order of Finish ? 3, 1, 2

Singles
1. No. 67 Lucas Jovita (USF) def. Andy Juc (FU), 6-1, 6-4
2. Jamal Adderley (USF) def. Daniel Knause (FU), 6-2, 6-1
3. Diego Toledo (USF) def. Bo Ladyman (FU), 5-7, 7-6 (4), 1-0 (8)
4. Michael Nusslein (USF) def. Chris Motes (FU), 6-4, 6-0
5. Thomas Estrada (USF) def. Jordan Walters (FU), 7-6 (2), 7-5
6. Daniel Daudt (USF) def. Sawyer Duncan (FU), 6-1, 6-1

Order of Finish ? 1, 4, 6, 2, 5, 3