March 24, 2001

BOCA RATON, FL -

Florida Atlantic University needed a third-set tiebreaker to hang on and defeat Auburn-Montgomery Saturday in Boca Raton. Doug Devriendt provided the drama at no. 2 singles as he defeated AM's Lars Ranger in the decisive tiebreaker, lifting the Owls over the Senators 4-3. The victory improves FAU to 14-3 on the season and extends the team's winning streak to eight.

The Owls started off the match the same way they have for the past 16 matches which was by winning the doubles point. However, the Senators responded by winning three of the first five singles matches to tie the match score at 3-3. That left it up to Devriendt, who had split his first two sets with Ranger before taking a 4-0 lead in set three. Ranger battled back to force a tiebreaker, which Devriendt won easily, 7-2.

Andre Buzzoni also added a victory at singles for the Owls at no. 3 while Sandro Spotti did the same at no. 4.

FAU next hosts Central Florida March 31 at 10:00am.

Singles

1. Gonzalo Rio (AM) d. Yalin Bilgin (FAU) 6-0, 6-2.

2. Doug Devriendt (FAU) d. Lars Ranger (AM) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6.

3. Andre Buzzoni (FAU) d. Devin Wakeford (AM) 6-2, 6-2.

4. Sandro Spotti (FAU) d. Fernando Sedano (AM) 6-3, 6-3.

5. Stig Stroem (AM) d. Cristain Paiz (FAU) 6-4, 6-3.

6. Guillermo Prata (AM) d. Fabio Faerman (FAU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles

1. Bilgin/Martin Jirak (FAU) d. Ranger/Stroem (AM) 8-6.

2. Rio/Sedano (AM) d. Devriendt/Paiz (FAU) 8-3.

3. Faerman/Spotti (FAU) d. Thato Kgosimore/Wakeford (AM) 9-7.