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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Embry-Riddle Men Sweep Regional Titles

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle men's tennis teams reclaimed both the singles and doubles titles at the 2009 Wilson/ITA Florida Regional, Sunday at ERAU's Crotty Tennis Complex. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Embry-Riddle, who had six players in the singles quarterfinals and four teams in the semis, has walked with the regional titles. Sunday's victories earned Peter Francis and Istvan Bolgar the right to play in the ITA National Small College Championships at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala., Oct. 15-18.

The singles bracket featured four Embry-Riddle players in the semifinals with senior Bolgar and sophomore Charlie Rice emerging to play for the tournament title. Bolgar took a one-set lead, topping Rice 6-3 in the opening frame, but Rice bounced back to win the second set by the same score. 

The third set saw Rice go up a break to take a 4-1 lead. The sophomore appeared to be on his way to a title but his senior teammate battled his way back into contention and pulled out the 7-5 third-set win to claim the first individual singles title of his collegiate career.

Bolgar had little time to bask in the victory as he returned to the court an hour later, this time in tandem with Francis for the doubles final. On the other side of the net was the top-seeded duo of Adrian Bayh and Jan Hoekzema.

The first set of the best-of-three contest required a tie-breaker to determine the outcome and it was second-seeded Bolgar and Francis who took the one-set lead, winning 7-6, 7-2 in the tie-breaker. Bayh and Hoekzema easily won the second set 6-1, forcing a decisive third set. Bolgar showed no ill effects from playing a two-hour match earlier in the day as he and Francis held off their teammates 10-7 to win the doubles crown.

The Eagles also won the men's singles consolation bracket as Luke Maricic downed Webber International's Tyler Heath in straight sets. Maricic took the first set (7-6) in dramatic fashion, winning the tie-breaker 14-12. The second set was slightly easier as he topped Heath 6-3 to win the match.
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