March 31, 2001

BOCA RATON, FL -

For the first time in the program's history, the Florida Atlantic University men's tennis team finished its Trans America Athletic Conference regular season undefeated. FAU, ranked no. 66, did so by defeating visiting Central Florida, 6-1, Saturday in Boca Raton, FL. The win extended FAU's season-long winning streak to nine matches and improved the Owls to 15-3 overall and 6-0 in the TAAC. The Golden Knights entered the match ranked no. 58.

FAU started off the match the same way they have for 16 straight matches which was by winning the doubles point. The Owls cruised to three victories to take the early 1-0 lead which included a victory by the team of Yalin Bilgin and Martin Jirak. The duo improved to 14-1 this season at no. 1.

In singles play, FAU took a 3-0 lead on a pair of victories by Kodi Lewis and Cristian Paiz at no. 6 and no. 5, respectively. The Owls clinched the team victory when Bilgin defeated UCF's William Guerin 6-4, 6-2 at no. 2.

Andre Buzzoni and Jirak won their matches to give the Owls six of the match's seven points. Jirak, in his first match at no. 1 this season, downed UCF's Federico Camacho 6-4, 7-6.

In FAU's six TAAC victories this season, FAU outscored its opponents by a combined 40-2 . Saturday's victory assures FAU of the no. 1 seed at next month's TAAC Tournament.

The Owls next host DePaul Monday at 2:00pm.

Singles

1. Martin Jirak (FAU) d. Federico Camacho (UCF) 6-4, 7-6.

2. Yalin Bilgin (FAU) d. William Guerin (UCF) 6-4, 6-2.

3. Andre Buzzoni (FAU) d. Catalin Bradu (UCF) 2-6, 7-6, 4-2, Ret.

4. Gabriel Strangberg (UCF) d. Sandro Spotti (FAU) 6-1, 7-5.

5. Cristian Paiz (FAU) d. Augusto Sanabria (UCF) 6-2, 6-2.

6. Kodi Lewis (FAU) d. Ryan Winter (UCF) 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles

1. Bilgin/Jirak (FAU) d. Sananbria/Strangberg (UCF) 8-5.

2. Doug Devriendt/Paiz (FAU) d. Bradu/Camacho (UCF) 8-4.

3. Fabio Faerman/Spotti (FAU) d. Guerin/Johan Westin (UCF) 8-5.