@CanesMensTennis At The Bedford Cup
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami finished its first day at the Bedford Cup – State of Florida Championships at the UNF Tennis Complex with two singles victories and one doubles victory, Friday afternoon in Jacksonville, Fla.
Both freshmen Nile Clark and Andrew Harrington began their collegiate careers with victories in the first round of the White Flight bracket. In the Navy Flight bracket, sophomores Bernard Tefel and Daniel Shebshayevich each lost in two competitive matches. In doubles, the No. 8-seed Shebshayevich and Tefel moved on to the quarterfinals after winning their first match.
“Bernard, Danny, Nile and Andrew got off to a good start to the season today,” said assistant coach Mark Dickson. “I was really pleased with the way all of the guys competed. We’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going in the morning.”
Clark, a Philadelphia, Pa., native, dominated in his first match with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory over Florida Atlantic’s Harriston Heysek. Harrington, from Severna Park, Md., dominated his first set, and was able to dispatch a comeback in the second set by Florida Atlantic’s Alexander Gitin winning the match 6-1, 7-5.
“Nile and Andrew picked up the first wins of their college careers by playing aggressive tennis and out-working their opponents,” said Dickson.
Clark and Harrington now move forward into the Quarterfinals of the White Flight bracket. Clark will face Reece Acree from UCF and Harrington will play Karlyn Smalls from Florida A&M. Both matches begin Saturday at 9 a.m.
Tefel lost his opening match after winning the first set, then fighting hard throughout the match, but ultimately coming up short, losing to Grayson Goldin from Florida St., 6-2, 4-6, 0-6. Shebshayevich also played a tough match, losing in a double tiebreak to Tianyu Bao from Florida Gulf Coast, 7-6, 7-6.
“Bernard and Danny both lost really close, competitive singles matches to tough opponents, but they both played the aggressive style of tennis they need to continue playing,” said Dickson. “Danny had set points in each set of his match, and Bernard was up a set and a break and just couldn’t quite finish it out.”
Both Tefel and Shebshayevich will continue play in the Navy Singles Consolation Bracket. Tefel will play against Chris Barrus from UCF, and Shebshayevich will play Alexander Chepik from Bethune-Cookman. Both matches will begin play Friday at 12 p.m.
In the first round of doubles action, the freshman duo of Clark and Harrington moved to the Round of 16 with a forfeit decision. Clark and Harrington then had the difficult task of facing the No. 2 seeded team of Jack Findel-Hawkins and Lasse Muscheites from host UNF. In their first collegiate doubles event, Clark and Harrington came up short losing in straight sets, 2-6, 2-6.
The second doubles matchup, the No. 8 seeded team of Tefel/Shebshayevich paired up against Walid Gtari/Alexander Chepik from Bethune-Cookman. This incredibly competitive match saw the Canes prevail in another double tiebreak match, 7-6, 7-6.
The Tefel/Shebshayevich duo moves forward into the quarterfinals and will now play the No. 1 seeded team of Sasha Gozun and Roberto Cid from USF. Tefel and Shebshayevich will begin Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Stay up to date with the tournament results on HurricaneSports.com. To interact with the UM men’s tennis team socially, follow @CanesMensTennis on Twitter and like the team on Facebook.com/CanesMensTennis.
Singles Results
Round of 16
Navy Fight Bracket
Grayson Goldin (FSU) def. Bernard Tefel (UM), 2-6, 6-4, 6-0
Tianyu Bao (FGCU) def. Daniel Shebshayevich(UM), 7-6, 7-6
White Flight Bracket
Nile Clark(UM) def. Harrison Heysek (FAU), 6-1, 6-1
Andrew Harrington(UM) def. Alexander Gitin (FAU), 6-1, 7-5
Doubles Results
First Round
Clark/Harrington (UM) def. Watane (UCF)/Dzib (USF), forfeit
Round of 16
No. 8 Tefel/Shebshayevich (UM) def. Gtari/Chepik (BCU), 7-6, 7-6
No. 2 Findel-Hawkins/Muscheites (UNF) def. Clark/Harrington (UM), 6-2, 6-2
Saturday’s schedule
Navy Flight Singles Consolation
12 p.m. Tefel (UM) vs. Chris Barrus (UCF)
12 p.m. Shebshayevich (UM) vs. Alexander Chepik (B-CU)
White Flight Singles
9 a.m. Clark (UM) vs. Reece Acree (UCF)
9 a.m. Harrington (UM) vs. Karlyn Smalls (FAMU)
Doubles
1:30 p.m. No. 8 Tefel/Shebshayevich (UM) vs. No. 1 Gozun/Cid (USF)
