Ohio State
#21 UCF
No. 4 Ohio State Falls to No. 21 UCF 4-2
2/14/2025 3:32:00 PM | Men's Tennis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 4 Ohio State won the doubles point but No. 21 UCF rallied in singles to win 4-2 in the opening round of the ITA Indoor Team National Championship on Friday in Waco, Texas.
The loss is just the second of the season for the Buckeyes who will now play consolation matches on Saturday and Sunday.
Doubles
The Buckeyes wasted little time in racing out to leads on all three doubles courts.
Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin dominated on court three, winning 6-1 to improve to 8-2 on the year.
The clinching point came shortly after on court one as Aidan Kim and Will Jansen rolled to a 6-1 victory of their own.
Preston Stearns and Bryce Nakashima were on serve at 3-3 when the point was secured.
Singles
- UCF was able to grab momentum by winning four of the six first sets.
- Yassine Dlimi defeated Kim 6-3, 6-4 on court one to even the match.
- Alexander Bernard then put the Buckeyes back in front 2-1 as he defeated Paul Colin 6-4, 7-5 on court two.
- The Knights once again pulled even as No. 108 Mehdi Benchakroun outlasted Will Jansen 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 on court three.
- Liam Branger then took a back-and-forth three-set match with Jack Anthrop on court four 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 and UCF went up 3-2.
- On court six, Chris Li won the opening set but then unfortunately suffered an injury in the second set. He gutted it out and pushed through into the third set but eventually lost and the Knights advanced 4-2.
- Bryce Nakashima was on serve at 3-3 in the third set of his match when the team match was secured.
#21 UCF , #4 Ohio State 2
Singles
1. Yassine Dlimi (UCF) def. #22 Aidan Kim (OSU) 6-3, 6-4
2. #47 Alexander Bernard (OSU) def. Paul Colin (UCF) 6-4, 7-5
3. #108 Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF) def. #106 Will Jansen (OSU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
4. Liam Branger (UCF) def. Jack Anthrop (OSU) 7-5, 3-6. 6-4
5. Bryce Nakashima (OSU) vs. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) 6(2)-7, 6-4, 3-3 (Unfinished)
6. Nicolas Oliveira (UCF) def. Chris Li (OSU) 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-1
Doubles
1. Aidan Kim/Will Jansen (OSU) def. Liam Branger/Paul Colin (UCF) 6-1
2. Bryce Nakashima/Preston Stearns (OSU) vs. Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF) 3-3, unfinished
3. Nikita Filin/Brandon Carpico (OSU) def. Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF) 6-1
Match Notes:
UCF 10-1; National ranking #21
Ohio State 8-2; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,2,3,4,6)
#GoBucks
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3,4,6
