Barry Men's Tennis Lassos Lynn for 13th SSC Tournament Title, 16th Overall

Barry Men's Tennis Lassos Lynn for 13th SSC Tournament Title, 16th Overall

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Buccaneers win 5-1, expect to host NCAA Regional

By: Jim McCurdy | Barry University Sports Information

BRADENTON, Fla. – Ahmed Triki had a feeling of relief written all over his face. When the final ball dropped, the Buccaneers' senior leader raised his arms in victory and let out a loud cheer. It was exultation and exclamation all in one.

Ever better, now he also can call himself a Sunshine State Conference champion again.

Triki and Barry University's No. 2-ranked men's tennis team beat No. 8 Lynn, 5-1, Saturday at IMG Academy to win the SSC Tournament title. It is Barry's 13th league tournament championship and 16th overall with the addition of three regular season titles.

"It's a great feeling to win conference," Triki said after coming up with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Mehdi Laalej at No. 1 singles to clinch the title. "It's a big step before the nationals. It prepares us well."

Barry is expected to host the NCAA South Regional next weekend at Buccaneer Tennis Center. The official announcement will come 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on NCAA.com.                                                 


INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Barry 5, Lynn 1
Records: Barry 21-1, Lynn 19-5
 

SUMMARY:

  • All three doubles matches ended in 8-6 verdicts. It was the second time in this year's SSC
    7708
    SSC Commissioner Pasque with Barry capitans
    Tournament the Bucs were involved in a match where all three doubles matches were decided by the same score. Barry used three 8-2 doubles victories in Thursday's quarterfinals to beat Eckerd.
  • Fourth-ranked Pierre Montrieul and Triki beat Florian Clemares and Laalej at the No. 1 position to send Barry into singles with a 2-1 lead. Triki and Montrieul trailed 3-0 to open that top pairs match. It roughly 25 minutes before the second change in that match.
  • No. 25-ranked Carlos Gomez and Vivien Versier defeated Kay Bartmann and Jose Porfirio at No. 2 doubles. That win tied the match at 1-1 after Lynn won the No. 3 doubles match.
  • Versier extended Barry's lead to 3-1 when he coasted past Clemares, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 6 singles. 
  • Fabian Pronnet made it 4-1 when he finished off Porfirio, 6-1, 6-1, at the No. 5 position.
  • Forty sixth-ranked Nico Dreer led Tristan Houle. 6-4, 5-4, at No. 4 singles when Triki clinched.  
  • Eleventh-ranked Gomez was ahead of 16th-ranked Bartmann, 6-1, 5-3, at No. 3 singles when the match was decided. 

NOTEWORTHY:

  • The win marks the third time the Buccaneers have swept the regular season and postseason SSC titles, having done so in 2014 and 2015 as well. Barry beat Lynn, 6-3, a couple weeks ago to wrap up this year's league regular season championship. 
  • Triki won his 79th career doubles match to move into a tie with Marco Mokrzycki for second place on the school's all-time list. Triki's .859 doubles winning percentage is tied with Sergio Vel77087708ez for the best in school history.
  • Head coach George Samuel has coached the men's program to all 16 of its league championships. He is in his 26th year with the men's program and 27th overall at Barry. Samuel began coaching the women's team a year before he took over the men's program in 1992.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

"To be honest, I haven't felt this way in a pretty long time. I felt really good today on the court, physically. I feel pretty motivated and confident right now."


ON THE HORIZON:

Barry will compete in the NCAA South Regional next weekend likely at Buccaneer Tennis Center. 

BOX SCORE