By TOM ZEBOLD

USF Senior Writer

Juan Carlos Acuna Gerard and Lucas Marin-Salcedo served up singles wins, but it wasn't enough for the USF men's tennis team in a 4-2 loss to No. 43 UNC-Wilmington on Saturday in the first round of the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Los Angeles.

Marin Salcedo beat Michael Reilly in straight sets, while Acuna Gerard triumphed in three sets over Pedro Mol, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, in the two-day event at Southern Cal's Marks Stadium.

Oliver Pramming and Yannick Yoshizawa teamed up to earn an 8-5 doubles win, but USF lost the doubles point in the best-out-of-three format.

No. 45 USF had the chance to face No. 1 USC if it won Saturday. The Trojans were facing UNLV in Saturday's other first-round match. You can watch Sunday's matches and get live scoring online at the following link.

The ITA Kickoff Weekend is taking place at 15 different university sites around the country. The winners of each site automatically qualify for the ITA National Men's Team Indoor Championships next month at the University of Virginia.

 

ITA Kickoff Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 - Los Angeles, Calif. (Marks Stadium)
#43 UNC-Wilmington 4, #45 South Florida 2

DOUBLES
(1) Blank/Cooprider (UNCW) def. Kilani/Sabogal (USF) -- 8-5
(2) #60 Pramming/Yoshizawa (USF) def. Reilly/Williams (UNCW) -- 8-5
(3) Aita/Mol (UNCW) def. Hagn/Marin-Salcedo (USF) -- 8-6
UNCW wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

SINGLES
(1) Chris Cooprider (UNCW) def. Wael Kilani (USF) -- 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
(2) Rafael Aita (UNCW) def. Federico Sabogal (USF) -- 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
(3) Juan Carlos Acuna (USF) def. Pedro Mol (UNCW) -- 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
(4) Kosta Blank (UNCW) def. Ravi Patel (USF) -- 6-1, 6-2
(5) Kaue Pereira (UNCW) vs. Yannick Yoshizawa (USF) -- 6-4, 4-6, 5-6 susp.
(6) Lucas Marin-Salcedo (USF) def. Michael Reilly (UNCW) -- 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: 4, 6, 2, 3, 1*