The University of South Florida men's tennis team battled in a tightly contested match on Friday afternoon, ultimately falling 4-3 to Liberty at the USF Varsity Tennis Courts. The Bulls showed strong performances across singles play, earning three points in a competitive outing.
Doubles play opened the match, with USF securing an early win at the No. 2 position as James Newton and Toto Llanes delivered a convincing 6-3 victory. The point ultimately went to Liberty, however, after close battles on courts one and three, giving the Flames a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
USF responded with a strong showing in singles, beginning on court one where Hugo Car set the tone with a dominant straight-set win, 6-2, 6-2, to even the match. Shortly after, Elijah Cham added another point for the Bulls with an impressive 6-4, 6-2 victory on court two, putting USF ahead.
Continuing the momentum, Agustin Cuellar delivered a commanding performance on court four, winning 6-3, 6-2 to extend the Bulls' lead.
Liberty responded in the remaining matches, but USF continued to battle. Stepan Mruzek pushed his match on court three to a tight first set before falling, while Ettore Danesi and Timeo Gaillard each fought through three-set contests, showing resilience despite the final results.
Despite the narrow loss, the Bulls showcased depth and competitiveness across the lineup as they continue through the final stretch of the regular season. USF will look to bounce back on Sunday when they host Harvard at 11 a.m. ET.
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 2025-26 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.
– #Go Bulls –
