Cards Take Down No. 22 Miami 4-0

Friday, March 29

LOUISVILLE, KY

1:30 p.m.

University of Louisville

MIAMI

Brandon Lancaster returns the ball during the match against Xavier at Bass-Rudd Tennis Center on February 21

March 29, 2019 | Men's Tennis

Box Score Brandon Lancaster Interview

Brandon Lancaster clinches the win

By: DaCosta Phelps

The University of Louisville men's tennis team jumped ahead early and carried the momentum to a 4-0 win over No. 22 Miami in an ACC contest Friday afternoon at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

"We've played some of the top ACC schools on the road lately, and taking our lumps and this team didn't give up," said UofL head coach Rex Ecarma. "It was just like excitement, built up frustration and all of that emotion all came out at the end of the match. That's how we feel, we feel happy, relieved, satisfied and we haven't really lightened up practice. We've made it more intense and that's kind of risky at the end of the season but these guys really responded."

The Cards (13-8, 2-5) seized the momentum early, taking a 1-0 lead after taking two of three doubles matches. Miami (15-6, 6-2) got the early edge after Franco Aubone and Francisco Bastias took a 6-2 decision over UofL's Fredrik Moe and Brandon Lancaster. Senior Federico Gomez and freshman Alex Wesbrooks quickly responded with a 6-2 victory over Miami's Dane Dunlap and Stephen Madonia. UofL senior Christopher Morin-Kougoucheff and freshman Fabien Salle then capped off the round with a 6-2 win of their own over Adria Soriano Barrera and Tatsuki Shimamoto to give the Cards the 1-0 lead.

In singles action, UofL added another point when Salle continued with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Miami's Bojan Jankulovski on court four. UofL then quickly extended its lead to 3-0 when Morin-Kougoucheff won a tight 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) battle over Barrera on court one.

The match was ultimately decided on court two, where Lancaster won his first set 6-4, but then took a tough 3-6 loss in his second set. Lancaster would bounce back and claim a 6-2 win in the third set, sealing the UofL sweep over the Hurricanes.

Louisville will continue ACC play on March 31 when the Cards play host to the Duke Blue Devils at 1:30 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. matchup against Illinois State.

3/29/2019 at Louisville, Ky.
(Bass-Rudd Tennis Center)
Singles
1. C. Morin-Kougoucheff (LOU) def. #27 Adria Soriano Barrera (UM) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Brandon Lancaster (LOU) def. Francisco Bastias (UM) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
3. Sergio Hernandez (LOU) vs. Dane Dunlap (UM) 6-3, 0-6, 5-5, unfinished
4. Fabien Salle (LOU) def. #81 Bojan Jankulovski (UM) 6-3, 6-2
5. Federico Gomez (LOU) vs. Franco Aubone (UM) 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0, unfinished
6. Clement Filho (LOU) vs. W. Grattan-Smith (UM) 1-6, 6-1, 2-3, unfinished
Doubles
1. C. Morin-Kougoucheff/Fabien Salle (LOU-MT) def. A. Soriano Barrera/Tatsuki Shimamoto (UM) 6-4
2. Federico Gomez/Alex Wesbrooks (LOU-MT) def. Dane Dunlap/Stephen Madonia (UM) 6-4
3. Franco Aubone/Francisco Bastias (UM) def. Fredrik Moe/Brandon Lancaster (LOU-MT) 6-2

Match Notes:
University of Miami 15-5 (6-1); National ranking #22
Louisville Men's Tennis 12-8 (1-5)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,2)