Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's tennis team opened up the season with a 4-3 victory over Florida National University at the Fred Bullard Courts on Thursday afternoon.
The Tritons (1-0) beat the Conquistadors after earning the doubles point and taking three singles matches.
Eckerd opened the day with a doubles point win, as Eckerd took two of the three matches. The rookie pairing of Mario Kirkov and Marshall Hulett shutout the Conquistadors' Lennart Ostheimer and Luigu Stefanacci, 6-0. The Tritons top pairing of Batu Ataseven and Christian Kearns knocked off Ignacio Acosta and David Santamaria, 6-3 to clinch the doubles victory.
In singles play, Eckerd picked up two wins in the top three spots, with Ataseven sweeping Acosta 6-0, 6-0 in the top position. Phil Grueninger clinched the match for the Tritons in the No. 6 spot, defeating Santamaria 7-5, 6-4. Kirkov picked up his first career singles victory, taking down Ostheimer 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 3 spot.
The Tritons next match is on the road at Warner (Fla.) on February 20th at 3:00 PM.Â
Singles competitionÂ
1. Batu Ataseven (ECM) def. Ignacio Acosta (FNU-M) 6-0, 6-0
2. Guido Gentile (FNU-M) def. Christian Kearns (ECM) 6-3, 6-3
3. Mario Kirkov (ECM) def. Lennart Ostheimer (FNU-M) 6-2, 6-3
4. Alejandro Suarez (FNU-M) def. Eric Asakura (ECM) 4-6, 6-4, 10-5
5. Luigi Stefanacci (FNU-M) def. Marshall Hulett (ECM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Phil Grueninger (ECM) def. David Santamaria (FNU-M) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competitionÂ
1. Batu Ataseven/Christian Kearns (ECM) def. Ignacio Acosta/David Santamaria (FNU-M) 6-3
2. Mario Kirkov/Marshall Hulett (ECM) def. Lennart Ostheimer/Luigi Stefanacci (FNU-M) 6-0
3. Guido Gentile/Alejandro Suarez (FNU-M) def. Phil Grueninger/Eric Asakura (ECM) 6-4
