March 13, 2011
AUBURN -- The No. 26 Auburn Tigers were defeated by No. 15 Florida, 4-3, at the Yarbrough Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon. With the loss the Tigers move to 8-5 on the season, 1-3 in the Southeastern Conference.
"We had our chances and we came out on fire in doubles," said Auburn head coach Eric Shore. "We knew they were going to be strong and that they were going to come back. It's disappointing."
In doubles, Auburn started out strong on court one as No. 46 Tim Puetz and Daniel Cochrane defeated Florida's Sekou Bangoura, Jr. and Alexandre Lacroix, 8-1.
The Gators (11-3, 4-0 SEC) responded in the No. 3 spot as Nassim Slilam and Billy Federhofer topped Auburn's Lucas Loppasso and Rafael Rondino, 8-4. The Tigers would secure the doubles point after No. 46 Alex Stamchev and Andreas Mies overcame Bob van Overbeek and Andrew Butz, 8-4.
Florida bounced back in singles, winning the first two matches to take a 21- lead. The Gators' Spencer Newman toppled Lopasso, 6-3, 6-3. On court two, Florida's No. 32 Bangoura defeated Tim Hewitt, 6-3, 6-4.
Auburn tied up the match at 2-2 after Rondino's 7-6 (4), 6-4, victory over Florida's Federhofer. On court one, No. 6 Lacroix gave Florida a 3-2 edge by beating No. 23 Puetz, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Florida clinched the win with a victory from Bob van Overbeek, who gave No. 117 Andreas Mies his first loss of the year, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2). No. 104 Stamchev finished the match with a win against No. 125 Slilam, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The Tigers will head to Tampa, Fla., for a non-conference matchup with South Florida on Wednesday. Auburn will return to SEC action on March 20, in Nashville, Tenn., to face Vanderbilt.
Against Florida
Singles competition
1. #6 Alexandre Lacroix (UF) def. #23 Tim Puetz (AU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
2. #32 Sekou Bangoura Jr. (UF) def. Tim Hewitt (AU) 6-3, 6-4
3. #104 Alex Stamchev (AU) def. #125 Nassim Slilam (UF) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
4. Bob van Overbeek (UF) def. #117 Andreas Mies (AU) 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2)
5. Rafael Rondino (AU) def. Billy Federhofer (UF) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
6. Spencer Newman (UF) def. Lucas Lopasso (AU) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #43 Tim Puetz/Daniel Cochrane (AU) def. Alexandre Lacroix/Sekou Bangoura Jr. (UF) 8-1
2. #46 Alex Stamchev/Andreas Mies (AU) def. Bob van Overbeek/Andrew Butz (UF) 8-4
3. Nassim Slilam/Billy Federhofer (UF) def. Lucas Lopasso/Rafael Rondino (AU) 8-4
Match Notes:
University of Florida 11-3 (4-0 SEC); National ranking #15
Auburn University 8-5 (1-3 SEC); National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (6,2,5,1,4)