TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 31 ranked Florida State men’s tennis team (15-8, 5-5) took down No. 43 Virginia Tech (15-7, 5-5) 4-3 in a thriller that came down to Enzo Le Seguillon in a tiebreaker.
“It was a great win today on Lucas’s senior day,” said head coach Dwayne Hultquist. “The doubles point gave us a good start. We were getting beat pretty bad at the beginning of singles, losing five of the first six first sets but we hung in there. We battled back all day long. Down 3-1 and coming back to win the final three matches and down four team match points with Enzo was huge. Enzo came in clutch and he deserves to be the player of the day.”
The Noles got things underway by winning the doubles point that proved to be the crucial point. Junior Alex Knaff and sophomore Sebastian Arcila played as good as they have all season to give FSU a 1-0 lead in doubles. Lucas Poullain along with freshman Bryn Nahrung clinched the doubles point 7-5 on court two.
Singles started out with the Noles falling behind by losing five of the six first sets. They quickly got things turned around to win three of the second sets and that turned out to be all they needed.
After leading 1-0 after doubles FSU fell behind 3-1 halfway through singles. Court five was the first to fall as Virginia Tech won in straight sets. The Hokies then took courts two and three at almost the same time to take a 3-1 lead.
Sophomore Chase Wood got the Noles on the board with a singles win on court six. He took the first set 6-4 but was in a battle in the second. They were swapping points the whole set going to a tiebreaker. The tiebreaker was back and forth as well as Wood pulled it off with a 9-7 win.
Poullain was next as he won his second match on senior day with a win court one. He lost the first set 6-3 but came back to take the second set 6-2. In the third set, the two continued to hold serve until he took the final two games to take the court and tie the match up at three.
The match came down to Poullain’s fellow Frenchman, Enzo. Enzo lost the first set 6-4 on court four but dominated the second set 6-1 to force a match-deciding third set. He too was in a battle that was sent into a tiebreaker. Back and forth Enzo took a 6-4 lead. Virginia Tech’s Carlo Donato tied the breaker up at six and then took a 7-6 but Le Seguillon was not fazed. He won the next three points to take the tiebreaker and clinch the match.
The Seminoles are on the road next week at Wake Forest and Duke to wrap up the regular season.
To keep up with the Seminoles, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, or keep up with the team on social media through Twitter (@FSU_MTennis), Facebook (/FSUMTennis), and Instagram (@FSU_MTennis).
#31 Florida State University 4, #43 Virginia Tech 3
Singles competition
- #39 Lucas Poullain (FS) def. #66 Jason Kros (VT) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
- Henrik Korsgaard (VT) def. Alex Knaff (FS) 7-5, 6-4
- Alex Ribeiro (VT) def. Juan Martin Jalif (FS) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
- Enzo Le Seguillon (FS) def. Carlo Donato (VT) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9-7)
- Brandon Perez (VT) def. Sebastian Arcila (FS) 6-4, 6-4
- Chase Wood (FS) def. Evan Fragistas (VT) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
Doubles competition
- Alex Knaff/Sebastian Arcila (FS) def. Henrik Korsgaard/Ryan Kros (VT) 6-1
- Lucas Poullain/Bryn Nahrung (FS) def. Brandon Perez/Jason Kros (VT) 7-5
- Chase Wood/Juan Martin Jalif (FS) vs. Freddy Mesmer/Carlo Donato (VT) 5-5, unfinished
Match Notes:Virginia Tech 15-7, 5-5; National ranking #43
Florida State University 15-8, 5-5; National ranking #31
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,2,3,6,1,4)
