MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 24, 2016) – The University of South Florida men's tennis team secured its third consecutive American Conference Championship Sunday afternoon by defeating the No. 2 seed Tulsa, 4-0, at the Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center.
The No. 17 Bulls (20-8) started championship Sunday by taking the doubles point. The tandem of Sasha Gozun (Orhei, Moldova) and Vadym Kalyuzhnyy (Donetsk, Ukraine) led the way for USF, just as they have all season. No. 34 Gozun and Kalyuzhnyy earned a huge break point to go up 4-2, then took the next two sets to win 6-2.
Almost a minute later, Bulls duo of Roberto Cid (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and Ignacio Gonzalez-Muniz (Gijon Asturas, Spain) clinched court three. Holding a 5-3 lead, Cid and Gonzalez-Muniz had an opportunity for a break point to win the match. Gonzalez-Muniz hit an amazing return down the left line to win 6-3 and secure the doubles point for USF.
“There wasn't a doubt that once singles came out everyone was ready to go, us and them,” said head coach Matt Hill. “We knew it was going to be a war all the way through and that's what it was.”
The Bulls seized momentum in doubles and kept things rolling into singles. Junior Sasha Gozun was first to strike in singles play at the No. 2 position. Gozun trailed early in the first set 5-3, but put together a tremendous rally to win 7-5. The junior seemed to gain confidence as played entered the second set and Gozun ultimately won 7-5, 6-3.
With the lead at 2-0, junior Vadym Kalyuzhnyy tallied next for USF on court six. Kalyuzhnyy was a force all weekend and was dominant again on Sunday. After taking the first set 6-2, the junior broke serve at 5-5 in the second set. At 6-5 in set two, Kalyuzhnyy served to the win 6-2, 7-5.
Needing only one more point to clinch the American Championship, all eyes focused in on court four featuring sophomore Peter Bertran (Santiago, Dominican Republic). Bertran took the first set 6-4 and found himself tied at 5-5 in the second. The sophomore would break serve and go on to win 6-4, 7-5, clinching the Bulls third consecutive American Championship.
It has been a historic run for USF. The Bulls have now won every American Championship since the inaugural tournament in 2014. Remarkably, USF has never lost a match at the conference tournament. It is also the second consecutive time they have beaten Tulsa in the championship final.
“I couldn't be more proud, there is a lot of adversity that comes with winning championships and we've handled it well,” said Hill. “We are just really excited for today and excited for NCAA's coming up.”
The American Championship Most Outstanding Player award went to senior Roberto Cid. The senior had a brilliant weekend posting a 2-0 record in singles and a 2-1 record in doubles. In the semifinal match against Tulane, Cid notched a notable win over No. 2 Dominik Koepfer of Tulane.
“We have the 10th toughest schedule in the country, so to be that successful from the first position, he's been incredible this year,” said Hill.
The senior class of Everth Dzib (Yucatan State, Mexico), Roberto Cid, Ignacio Gonzalez-Muniz and Dominic Cotrone (Bradenton, Fla.) has been truly special for the Bulls. They now leave with three conference titles in four years. This year's senior class was head coach Matt Hill's first recruiting class at the helm of USF. Along with Hill, the seniors have helped transform the program and take it to new heights.
“It's crazy, I didn't expect any of this when I came to college, it's a great feeling knowing that since my freshman year we've been able to do well in conference play,” said Cid. “It's a huge accomplishment and hopefully these guys continue to keep it up next year.”
Next on the schedule for the Bulls is the NCAA tournament. Play will begin on May 13 with first and second round matches being held at various campus cites. The NCAA tournament finals will be held on May 19 in Tulsa, Okla.
For more information on the USF men's tennis program, follow @USFBullsMTennis on Twitter and you can find more information about the American Championships HERE.
