TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The FGCU men’s tennis team finished Day One at the Florida State Invitational on Friday night, earning six singles wins with freshman Tianyu Bao (Bradenton, Fla./Bayshore HS) reaching the quarter-finals of the singles B draw.

"We definately need to improve our doubles before the spring," said head coach C.J. Weber. "We've been focusing a lot on our singles so it's nice to see some success there."

Senior Matthew Rock (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Fort Lauderdale HS/Jacksonville) earned a thrilling three-set victory against Jacksonville’s Eduardo Martinez, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). Rock was able to force a third-set and come away with the win in the tiebreaker, 7-5. In the second round, he lost in straight sets to Levan Clark from FAMU, 6-3, 6-1.

Sophomores Lance Lvovsky (Dania, Fla./Broward Virtual School/Jacksonville) and Dean Tsamas (Lexington, K.Y./Henry Clay HS) finished the day 1-1 in singles. Lvovsky dropped his first match against North Florida’s Daniel Sotomarino, 6-3, 6-1, before defeating Marc Misanovic from Bethune-Cookman, 6-1, 6-0. Tsamas fell to Florida State’s Andres Bucaro, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, then took care of Santiago Lobelo from Bethune-Cookman, 6-3, 6-0.

In the singles B draw, Gabriel Echeverry (Popayan, Columbia/Gimnasio Calibio) earned a victory over South Alabama’s Christian Kuchne, 6-2, retired. Echevery won the first set before his opponent retired due to an injury.

Bao picked up a three-set win against Max De Juan from Southern Mississippi, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5. After being awarded a first round bye, Bao won his only singles match of the day to move to the quarter-final round tomorrow.

"I felt like my serve was really good today and by being patient in the match I made less errors that helped me earn the victory," said Tianyu Bao. "I need to play a better net game, which will help me be better overall."

Junior Collin Brown (Victoria, Texas/Memorial HS) secured the final singles win of the day for the Eagles after defeating Bethune-Cookman’s Kip Jackson, 6-0, 6-3.

FGCU’s three-day stint at the Florida State Invitational will continue tomorrow and will finish on Sunday in Tallahassee.

SINGLES A DRAW

Matthew Rock (FGCU) v. Eduardo Martinez (JU) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5)

Daniel Sotomarino (UNF) def. Lance Lvovsky (FGCU) 6-3, 6-1

Salif Kante (FAMU) def. Jackson Moore (FGCU) 6-1, 6-1

Andres Bucaro (FSU) def. Dean Tsamas (FGCU) 7-6 (4), 6-2

SINGLES A DRAW Second Round

Levan Clark (FAMU) def. Rock (FGCU) 6-3, 6-1

SINGLES A DRAW Consolation

Lvovsky (FGCU) def. Misanovic (Bethune-Cookman) 6-1, 6-0

Frost (Southern Miss.) def. Moore (FGCU) 6-3, 6-4

Tsamas (FGCU) def. Lobelo (Bethune-Cookman) 6-3, 6-0

SINGLES B DRAW

Gabriel Echeverry (FGCU) def. Christian Kuchne (USA) 6-2, ret.

Timo Kranz (UNF) def. Collin Brown (FGCU) 7-6 (2), 6-0

SINGLES B DRAW Second Round

Tianyu Bao (FGCU) def. Max De Juan (Southern Miss.) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5

Elortegui (Southern Miss.) def. Echeverry (FGCU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4

Gregor (USA) def. Michael Beiler (FGCU) 6-4, 6-3

Zasagrande (JU) def. Steve Binninger (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2

Singles B Draw First Round Consolations

Brown (FGCU) def. Jackson (BCU) 6-0, 6-3

DOUBLES DRAW

Dirube/Gardner (UAB) def. Dean Tsamas/Gabriel Echevvery (FGCU) 9-7

Manlow/Helliar (UAB) def. Michael Beiler/Jackson Moore (FGCU) 8-2

Doubles Second Round

Davis/Bucaro (FSU) def. Matthew Rock/ Tianyu Bao (FGCU) 8-2

Fantova/Condez (JU) def. Lance Lvovsky/Collin Brown (FGCU) 8-4