Results
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Senior
Dylan Randazzo outlasted a nationally/regionally-ranked opponent in singles action through a compelling third-set tiebreaker as the Eckerd College men's tennis program battled No. 22 Florida Southern College in defeat on Friday afternoon, 8-1.
The Tritons (0-2, 0-2 SSC) were squaring off against another ITA Top-25 ranked program after opening the spring at No. 3 Lynn University last weekend.
The Mocs (3-2, 1-1 SSC) carried a No. 7 ranking in the South Region into today's dual and won five of six singles matches while sweeping doubles at the Turley Athletic Complex.
"We started out very flat today and being unable to practice yesterday really hurt us today,” said EC Head Coach Erin Koenig. "I was proud of the guys for turning things around after doubles.”
“I was very proud of Dylan's effort today,” she added. “He played a great first set and lost a little steam in the second set, but really came on strong in the third-set tiebreaker and kept his composure. He really showed a lot of senior leadership today.”
Randazzo and Emanuel Lueber battled for bragging rights in the No. 1 singles matchup with the Moc coming with respective rankings of 34th nationally and 11th overall in the competitive South Region.
Randazzo had the upper hand in the first set with a 6-3 decision, but was blanked by Lueber in the second set, 6-0. With the match having already been decided, the pair locked horns in a third-set tiebreaker where the Triton emerged with a 10-8 final.
Randazzo collected his and the team's first win of the season.
Lueber and Benoit Paradis, another regionally-ranked Florida Southern competitor (No. 16) combined to bring down Randazzo and sophomore
Stephen Felman in doubles action.
EC managed one extra point in each doubles affair featuring freshman
Frazier Springfield and senior
Ben Levy along with sophomore
Madison Durley and freshman
Jonathan Cheng falling 8-2 and 8-3, respectively.
The Tritons were unable to claim any other singles matches against the Mocs.
Eckerd will be taking on Florida Tech, No. 10 in the regional rankings, on Sunday to continue Sunshine State Conference action at home. The Tritons and Panthers will begin their match on the courts at 12:30 p.m.
