LAKELAND, Fla. – The sixth-ranked Embry-Riddle men's tennis team (12-2) wrapped up its 2016 road slate with an 8-1 defeat of No. 43 Florida Southern (14-9) at the Moccasins' Wynne Warden Tennis Complex on Monday.
 
Playing their first doubles contest in dual match play of the season, Juan Verberne and Roberto Cuellar Rangel notched the Eagles' first point of the day with an 8-3 defeat of Arthur Viallaneix and Derek Bell at the third doubles spot. Playing at No. 2 doubles, Fabian Zierleyn and Carlos Becke teamed up for their team-best 20th win of the 2016 campaign, topping Miguel Alvarez-Hevia and Oscas Soderlund 8-6.
 
The 13^th-ranked duo of Deni Zmak and Juan Ortiz Couder assured the Blue and Gold of the doubles sweep as they bested Jose de Sario and Brian Silvonik 8-3 at the top spot.
 
Ortiz Couder was the first ERAU player to pick up a singles point when he dispatched Vialleneix 6-3, 6-2 on court four. Ranked sixth nationally in singles, Zmak had little trouble getting by de Sario, downing the FSC junior 6-2, 6-3 to score the clinching point.
 
After easily taking the first set 6-3, Luke de Caires dropped five straight games to fall behind Soderlund 5-2 in the second, but the ERAU junior recovered and rattled off five unanswered games of his own to take the match 7-5 and increase the Eagle lead to 6-1.
 
Becke (7-6 (5), 6-3) and Cuellar (6-3, 6-1) closed out the Eagle scoring with victories against Alvarez-Hevia and Bell, respectively, but the Moccasins were able to avoid the shutout when Silvonik got the better of a matchup against Zierleyn, 6-4, 6-3.
 
The Eagles will close out their first season of NCAA II competition at 4 p.m. on Tuesday when they host second-ranked Saint Leo at the Crotty Tennis Complex.
 
 
Tennis Match Results
Embry-Riddle vs Florida Southern
Apr 18, 2016 at Lakeland, Fla.
(Wynee Wardebn Complex)
 
#6 Embry-Riddle 8, #43 Florida Southern 1
 
 Singles competition
1. Deni Zmak (ERAUMT15) def. Jose de Sario (FSCM) 6-2 (6-0), 6-3
2. Brian Silvonik (FSCM) def. Fabian Zierleyn (ERAUMT15) 6-4, 6-3
3. Carlos Becke (ERAUMT15) def. Miguel Alvarez-Hevia (FSCM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
4. Juan Ortiz Couder (ERAUMT15) def. Arthur Viallaneix (FSCM) 6-3, 6-2
5. Luke de Caires (ERAUMT15) def. Oscar Soderlund (FSCM) 6-3, 7-5
6. Roberto Cuellar (ERAUMT15) def. Derek Bell (FSCM) 6-3, 6-1
 
 Doubles competition
1. Deni Zmak/Juan Ortiz Couder (ERAUMT15) def. Jose de Sario/Brian Silvonik (FSCM) 8-3
2. Fabian Zierleyn/Carlos Becke (ERAUMT15) def. Miguel Alvarez-Hevia/Oscar Soderlund (FSCM) 8-6
3. Roberto Cuellar/Juan Verberne (ERAUMT15) def. Arthur Viallaneix/Derek Bell (FSCM) 8-3
 
Match Notes:
Embry-Riddle 12-2; National ranking #6
Florida Southern 14-9; National ranking #43
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,5,2,3,6)
Zmak clinched at No. 1 singles
T-5:18