By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
WACO, Texas, MAY 14, 2015 – No. 18 USF's historic season came to an end with a 4-1 loss at No. 2 Baylor in the NCAA Division I Men's Championship Round of 16 on Thursday night.
USF (21-7) made the program's first Sweet 16 appearance after capturing its second consecutive American Athletic Conference crown.
“Three years ago this program was No. 75 in the country and wasn't even thinking about the NCAA tournament,” head coach Matt Hill said. “Last year these guys made the NCAA tournament and fell a little short. This year to make it to this stage and push the No. 2 in the nation means we're moving in the right direction.”
The Bulls applied the pressure early with a large Baylor crowd in the stands at the Hurd Tennis Center. Roberto Cid and Ignacio Gonzalez-Muniz started things off with an 8-4 victory and USF nearly seized the doubles point while battling through tiebreakers on two courts.
“It's great to grab leads but it was unfortunate we couldn't manage them well,” Hill said. “You run into two breakers and you make a few mistakes here and there. Baylor doesn't make intellectual or passive mistakes. That really hurt us and that point was key to winning this match.”
Appearing in its 14th straight Sweet 16, Baylor (24-5) took a 2-0 lead with a victory in the fourth singles position before the Bulls bounced back with a win over their own. Senior Oliver Pramming put USF on the scoreboard by cruising past No. 58 Max Tchoutakian, 6-3, 6-2, in the third position.
“That kid is unbelievable and to see how far Oliver has come in the past three years is incredible,” Hill said. “He beat a guy that's one of the best sophomores in the entire country. Oliver is ready to go on the pro tour and we're going to support him. We're going to miss him.”
Baylor took control again with a win in the sixth singles position, but the Bulls wouldn't go down without a fight. Sasha Gozun and Justin Roberts were in the midst of three-set thrillers when No. 2 Julian Lenz sealed the match for the Bears with a 6-3, 7-5 win over No. 21 Roberto Cid in the top singles position.
The loss snapped a seven-match winning streak for USF, which posted three consecutive 4-0 victories before heading to Waco. The Bulls shut out host Tulsa in the American title match and cruised past Boise State and No. 15 Virginia Tech in the first two rounds of the NCAA Championship.
“It's disappointing not to get this one today, but we're super excited about the future and we expect great things from these guys,” Hill said.
Three Bulls to Compete in NCAA Singles, Doubles Tourneys
Three Bulls will continue to compete once the national team championship finishes up in Waco.
Two-time American Player of the Year Roberto Cid will participate in the NCAA Championship singles tournament while Oliver Pramming and Justin Roberts will take part in doubles competition. Action takes place May 20-25 back at the Hurd Tennis Center.
#2 BAYLOR (24-5) def. #18 SOUTH FLORIDA (21-7), 4-1
Hurd Tennis Center Grandstand Courts
Doubles (Order of finish: 3, 1, 2)
1. #8 Julian Lenz/Diego Galeano (BAYLOR) def. #28 Oliver Pramming/Justin Roberts (USF), 8-7 (1)
2. #79 Tony Lupieri/Mate Zsiga (BAYLOR) def. Sasha Gozun/Vadym Kalyuzhnyy (USF), 8-7 (4)
3. Roberto Cid/Ignacio Gonzalez-Muniz (USF) def. Vince Schneider/Felipe Rios (BAYLOR), 8-4
Singles (Order of finish: 4, 3, 6, 1)
1. #2 Julian Lenz (BAYLOR) def. #21 Roberto Cid (USF), 6-3, 7-5
2. #35 Tony Lupieri (BAYLOR) vs. Sasha Gozun (USF), 6-3, 2-6, 1-5, DNF
3. Oliver Pramming (USF) def. #58 Max Tchoutakian (BAYLOR), 6-3, 6-2
4. Diego Galeano (BAYLOR) def. Ignacio Gonzalez-Muniz (USF), 6-1, 6-2
5. #116 Mate Zsiga (BAYLOR) vs. Justin Roberts (USF), 4-6, 6-2, 1-1, DNF
6. Felipe Rios (BAYLOR) def. Vadym Kalyuzhnyy (USF), 6-1, 6-4
