No. 32 Hurricanes Fall to No. 45 Seminoles, 4-3
March 12, 2004
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Sophomore Eric Hechtman (Miami, Fla.) upset No. 20 Mat Cloer at No. 1 singles, but could not lead the 32nd-ranked University of Miami men’s tennis team past rival No. 45 Florida State as the Hurricanes fell 4-3 Friday night at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
Florida State (8-5) captured the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead against Miami (9-1) when the 22nd-ranked tandem of Jeff Groslimond and Chris Westerhof downed Tim Krebs (Eschborn, Germany) and Colin Purcell (Louisville, Ky.), 8-4 in the No. 1 spot followed by FSU’s Cloer and teammate Jonathas Sucupira overtaking Jeremiah Fuller (Emmaus, Pa.) and P.J. Passalacqua (Naples, Fla.), 8-4 at No. 2. Hechtman and fellow Hurricane John Hoyes (Miami, Fla.) would rally off three straight points at No. 3 to come from behind against FSU’s Chip Webb and Joe Bassett, winning 8-6.
With Miami trailing 1-0, UM’s Passalacqua was forced to default at No. 6 singles to give FSU a 2-0 advantage. Purcell then put the Hurricanes on the board for the first time of the night, making quick work of Webb at No. 4 (6-1, 6-0).
With the match at 2-1, FSU answered Miami’s call winning at No. 5 with Westerhof overtaking Fuller, 6-2, 6-0.
In a match-up that would ultimately decide the match, the Hurricanes’ Hoyes couldn’t hold off Sucupira in the No. 2 position, falling 6-1, 6-4, giving FSU the victory to snap Miami’s unbeaten streak of nine straight matches.
With the outcome of the overall match decided, Hechtman, playing at No. 1 for the first time this season, took on FSU’s 22nd-ranked Cloer in what would be one of the closer matches of the night.
Hechtman struck first, taking the first set, 6-4. Not to be outdone, Cloer responded to win the second set, 6-4. The two would then battle in a third set match tie-break, with neither player falling behind more than two points, before Hechtman pulled ahead to win 10-7.
Krebs earned Miami’s third point with a victory over Groslimond at No. 3 (6-3, 6-2).
The Hurricanes return to action Monday, March 12, traveling to College Station, Texas to take on No. 13 Texas A&M.
No. 45 Florida State 4, No. 32 Miami 3
March 12, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla.
Singles
1. Eric Hechtman (UM) def. #20 Matt Cloer (FSU), 6-4, 4-6, (10-7)
2. Jonathas Sucupira (FSU) def. John Hoyes (UM), 6-1, 6-4
3. Tim Krebs (UM) def. Jeff Groslimond (FSU), 6-3, 6-2
4. Colin Purcell (UM) def. Chip Webb (FSU), 6-1, 6-0
5. Chris Westerhof (FSU) def. Jeremiah Fuller (UM), 6-2, 6-0
6. J.P. Bounassar (FSU) def. P.J. Passalacqua (UM), default
Order of finish: 6, 4, 5, 2, 3, 1
Doubles
1. #22 Jeff Groslimond/Chris Westerhof (FSU) def. Tim Krebs/Colin Purcell (UM), 8-4
2. Matt Cloer/Jonathas Sucupira (FSU) def. P.J. Passalacqua/Jeremiah Fuller (UM), 8-4
3. Eric Hechtman/John Hoyes (UM) def. Chip Webb/Joe Bassett (FSU), 8-6
Order of finish, 1, 2, 3
