The No. 10 seed Florida State men’s tennis team defeated UCF 4-1 on Saturday in the Tallahassee Regional, earning a trip to the Super Regional for the second time in three years.
With this accomplishment, the Seminoles have also made it to the final 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history.
In a highly contested match, Florida State lost the doubles point, but they came back strong in singles play. The first set was easily won by the team on all six courts prior to the competition being stopped by a lightning warning. There was a two-hour and ten-minute break before the game moved inside.
Florida State appeared to benefit from the indoor environment as Jamie Connel won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 singles, Loris Pourroy won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2, and Youcef Rihane won 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4, putting the Seminoles in a decisive position.
At No. 1 singles, Antoine Cornut-Chauvinc, ranked No. 4 in the country, completed a 6-4, 6-2 triumph to clinch the victory for Florida State. Cornut-Chauvinc’s incredible run has seen him win eight straight singles matches, increasing his season record to 25-2.
The team’s tenacity and performance were commended by head coach Dwayne Hultquist, who also highlighted their cohesion and resolve. In addition, he praised the players for their outstanding collaboration and performance, highlighting their commitment to the game and one another.
Gaining this victory puts Florida State in the Super Regional stage, where they will play the victor of Tennessee’s game against Memphis, the No. 7 seed. Once the pairings are confirmed, the place, date, and time of the match will be disclosed.
With the goal of maintaining their momentum and moving up in the competition, the Seminoles have established themselves as one of the top competitors in the NCAA Tournament thanks to their outstanding demonstration of ability and tenacity.