Men's Tennis | 2/10/2024 4:10:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. --  The No. 2 ranked Barry Buccaneers men's tennis team battled against the No. 1 ranked Valdosta State Blazers and fell short by a score of 4-3 at the Buccaneer Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: No. 2 Barry 3, #1 VSU 4
Records: Barry (1-1) VSU (3-0)
Series: Buccaneers lead the series 20-10.  

SUMMARY:

Doubles

1. Luca Mack / Rodrigo Carvalho (VSU) def. Adam Lynch / Simone Cavalleri (BU) 6-2
2. Takeshi Taco / Jerome Iaconi (VSU) def. Joao Ferreria / David Rieme (BU) 7-5
3. Jan Skerbatis / Christian Wedel (VSU) def. Bastien Rieme / Tim Riedell (BU) 6-4

Singles

1. Luca Mack (VSU) def. Adam Lynch (BU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Rodrigo Carvalho (VSU) def. Joao Ferreria (BU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
3. David Rieme (BU) def. Takeshi Taco (VSU) 2-6, 7-6, 6-2
4. Boruch Skierkier (VSU) def. Tim Riedel (BU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Bastien Rieme (BU) def. Christian Wedel (VSU) 6-1, 7-6
6. Leo Caill (BU) def. Jerome Iaconi (VSU) 6-4, 7-5

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Valdosta State got off to a 1-0, sweeping doubles and earning the point.  
• No. 1 singles was the first to finish up, Mack of VSU beat Lynch in straight sets, to put the Blazers up 2-0. 
• The Bucs came storming back, after B. Rieme at No. 5 and Caill at No. 6 both beat their opponents in straight sets to tie the match at 2-2. 
• Barry seemed to have all the momentum when D. Rieme defeated Takeshi at singles No. 3 in a three set thriller to put the Bucs up 3-2. 
• Ferreria was up five games to four in the third set, looking to clinch the match for the Bucs, but Carvalho fought back and tied the match for the Blazers. 
• It all came down to singles No. 4. Riedel was up four games to three, but was unable to hold the lead thanks to spectacular plays from Skierkier. The Blazers escaped with the 4-3 victory. 

NOTEWORTHY:

• The Blazers were able to avenge thier loss to the Bucs in the 2023 NCAA National Semifinals. 
• D. Rieme picked up his first win against a nationally-ranked opponent this year (#4-Taco), second of his career at Barry. 
• B. Rieme picked up his first career win against a nationally ranked opponent (#29-Wedel). 
• Caill, D. Rieme and B. Rieme all remain undefeated in singles this year.

ON THE HORIZON

The Bucs will travel to Indianapolis, Ind. to play in the 2024 ITA National Indoor Tournament that features the top-eight teams in Division II men's tennis. Barry will begin play on Friday Feb. 16 against Wayne State at the Uindy Tennis Center, starting at 5:30 p.m.