TAMPA, Fla. – The Wichita State men's tennis team dropped their final match in the Sunshine State to the South Florida Bulls by a 5-2 decision on Friday morning at USF Varsity Tennis Courts.
 
South Florida takes their season opener to improve to 1-0, while WSU starts the year 0-2.
 
In doubles, the Bulls took the early advantage over the Shockers with a 6-1 win over Amir Milushev and Arenui Luethi at court three. Doubles was drawn level with a 6-3 win by WSU's Alejandro Jacome and Kristof Minarik at court one, sending doubles to once again be decided at court two. 
 
The Shocker pair of Ilias Worthington and Vanja Hodzic battled tough at court two, but ultimately fell in a tiebreak, 11-9, giving the Bulls the doubles point.
 
In singles, true freshman Zaid Al Mashni earned his first collegiate win with a 7-6, 6-0 win at court six to tie the match score 1-1. USF would match the court six win with a victory at court four over Luke Bracks, 6-4, 6-2. 
 
Jacome retied the match soon after with a triumphant. 6-2, 6-3 win at court three, but South Florida responded again with a tight win at court one over Minarik, 6-4, 7-5 to take a 3-2 lead. USF finished the job with a win over Worthington at court five, 7-6, 6-3. 
 
Playing the match out, Hodzic fell at court two, 7-5, 7-6, to conclude the match in favor of USF, 5-2.
 
The Shockers return home to host the Omaha Mavericks for their home opener at Genesis Health Clubs on Rock Road in Wichita on January 25 at 1PM.