TAMPA (January 17, 2025) – The University of South Florida Bulls (2-0) opened the spring portion of their 2024-25 schedule on Friday with a pair of decisive wins at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. South Florida began the day with a 5-2 victory over conference foe Wichita State (0-1) in the morning and capped it with a 6-1 triumph over Florida Southern College.
South Florida trailed Wichita State on two courts early in doubles action, but the Bulls rallied to take two courts and tallied the team point. Ben Hudson and Ettore Danesi locked up a 6-1 win to begin the day on Court 3 before the doubles point came down to Court 2. Agustin Cuellar and Stepan Mruzek rallied in their match and outlasted the Shockers in a thrilling tiebreaker, 7-6 (11-9).
Danesi also notched a 6-4, 6-2 win during singles play on Court 4, but Wichita State briefly knotted the team score with a pair of wins. Elijah Cham put USF back in front, 3-2, with a 6-4, 7-5 victory on Court 1. Newcomer Gughi Verdese clinched the match for the Bulls on Court 5 with a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 win and Cuellar wrapped things up with a 7-5, 7-5 victory on Court 2.
Against Florida Southern, the Bulls had to rally again in doubles play, but eventually swept all three courts. The teams of Cham/Tom Pavlekovich-Smith, Cuellar/Mruzek and Danesi/Hudson each won on their respective courts.
Facing off against former Bull, Sam Frizelle, Cham tallied a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory on Court 1 in singles play. Cuellar, Verdese, Hudson and Mruzek also picked up wins as South Florida dominated in singles.
Up Next
The Bulls travel to Stetson on Monday, January 20 for a 2 p.m. match. The match was originally scheduled for Sunday but was postponed due to the threat of inclement weather.
About USF Men's Tennis
Be sure to follow USF men's tennis on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.
Head coach Ashley Fisher is in his ninth year at the helm of the program for the 2024-25 season. Fischer has guided the Bulls to four NCAA Tournaments, including three trips to the second round. He was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2017 & 2019 after leading USF to the conference title in each of those seasons.
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