MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Barry knew what it was in for Sunday. After all, this was the Buccaneers' rivals. This was Lynn week.
It wasn't easy, but the No. 2 Buccaneers got the result they needed in a 5-4 win over No. 3 Lynn at Buccaneer Tennis Center to cap off Homecoming Week.
Flavio Matteoli gutted out a third-set victory over Tristan Houle, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (2-7), 6-0, at No. 6 singles to wrap up the victory and break a 4-4 tie. Matteoli was down 4-1 in the first set, but came storming back to win it in a tiebreaker and steal momentum.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 5, Lynn 4
Records: Barry (4-0, 2-0 SSC), Lynn (5-2, 1-1 SSC)
SUMMARY:
- The Buccaneers dropped two points in pairs play when the Fighting Knights picked up wins at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles. But Carlos Gomez and Pierre Montrieul came away with a much-needed win at the No. 1 position, beating Florian Clemares and Jean-Baptiste Mateo, 8-5. That gave Lynn a 2-1 lead entering singles.
- Montrieul tied the match at 2-2 after making quick work of 25th-ranked Bartmann, 6-1, 6-0, at the No. 1 singles spot.
- Daniel Ventura picked up a big win over Clemares at No. 3, winning, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1). That put Barry in front, 3-2.
- Vivien Versier extended Barry's lead to 4-2 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jose Porfirio at No. 4 singles.
- But Lynn didn't fade, instead opting to get stronger with its backs against the wall. The Fighting Knights picked up another point at No. 5 singles when Blake Bayldon retired with an injury in a match he was losing to Gabriel Hocevar, 7-6 (7-2), 5-2, at No. 5 singles.
- Gomez fell in a third set tiebreaker to Mateo after leading 5-4. That tied the match at 4-4.
- But Matteoli delivered in the clutch, not flinching in the third set, where he played his best tennis to seal the victory.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Matteoli is unbeaten in singles play this season.
- Gomez and Montrieul won for the first time together in doubles.
- Ventura moved to 3-0 in singles play with his most impressive win of the season thus far.
ON THE HORIZON:
Barry will head to Valdosta, Ga., for its biggest road trip of the season March 3-5, beginning with a match against No. 4 Columbus State.
BOX SCORE