Buckeyes Triumph 4-0 over UCF to Open ITA Kickoff Weekend

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2 Ohio State took care of business on Saturday defeating UCF 4-0 on Saturday on the first day of the ITA Kickoff Weekend. The Buckeyes convincingly won the doubles point and moved swiftly through singles to clinch a stress-free victory.

The No. 5 ranked player in the country JJ Tracy and senior Robert Cash both finished 2-0 on the day for the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s pair of Andrew Lutschaunig and James Trotter left their doubles match unfinished, but Trotter clinched the win for the Buckeyes on court five with a 6-1, 6-4 win over UCF’s Liam Branger.

The Buckeyes played under the watch of an exciting crowd on Saturday and will look to do the same on Sunday. With a win over Oregon, Ohio State will advance to the ITA Indoor National Championships, an event the Buckeyes have won twice in the program’s storied history.

Doubles

• Ohio State’s dominant pair of Cannon Kingsley and Tracy convincingly won over Knight challengers Mehdi Benchakroun and Yassine Dlimi 6-1. Cash and Justin Boulais also finished with a 6-1 victory over UCF’s Liam Branger and Paul Colin.
• On court one, the Buckeye duo of Lutschaunig and Trotter held a strong lead over UCF’s No. 25 pair of Bogdan Pavel and Lleyton Cronje 5-2 as the doubles point was clinched. Lutschaunig and Trotter were in sink and confident the entire match.

Singles

• Cash continued to be a strength for the Buckeyes on court six as he finished first for the second match in a row. The senior has been dominant so far this year and moves to 4-0 on the year.
• 5 Tracy secured the third point for the Buckeyes on court three with an untroubled victory over opposing Knight Lleyton Cronje 6-0, 6-3.
• Trotter continued to improve through the beginning of the season with a 6-1, 6-4 win over UCF’s Liam Branger. Trotter now moves to 5-0 on the year after finishing last year at No. 54 in the country.

In the other match on Saturday, Oregon outlast Tulsa 4-3 to advance to Sunday’s championship match. UCF and Tulsa will play in the consolation match on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

#2 Ohio State 4, UCF 0

Singles
1. Justin Boulais (OSU) vs. Yassine Dlimi (UCF) 6-1, 4-5, unfinished
2. Cannon Kingsley (OSU) vs. Bogdan Pavel (UCF) 6-3, 5-2, unfinished
3. #5 JJ Tracy (OSU) def. Lleyton Cronje (UCF) 6-0, 6-3
4. Alexander Bernard (OSU) vs. Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) 6-3, 2-4, unfinished
5. James Trotter (OSU) def. Liam Branger (UCF) 6-1, 6-4
6. Robert Cash (OSU) def. Paul Colin (UCF) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
1. Andrew Lutschaunig/James Trotter (OSU) vs. #25 Bogdan Pavel/Lleyton Cronje (UCF) 5-2, unfinished
2. Robert Cash/Justin Boulais (OSU) def. Liam Branger/Paul Colin (UCF) 6-1
3. Cannon Kingsley/JJ Tracy (OSU) def. Mehdi Benchakroun/Yassine Dlimi (UCF) 6-1

Match Notes:
Ohio State 6-0; National ranking #2
UCF 1-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,3,5)
Time: 1:38 Attendance: 362

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