Jan. 29, 2006

WACO, Texas - The No. 7 Baylor men's tennis team suffered a heart-breaking loss to No. 2 ranked Florida 4-3 ending a 61-match winning streak of games played at home.

Things started out well for the Bears when the No. 31 team of Matija Zgaga and Jon Reckewey put down Florida's Janne Holmia and Greg Ouellette, 8-4 but the Bears couldn't hold onto the doubles point. Lars Poerschke and Vladimir Portnov fell to Nestor Briceno and Stefen Tell, 8-4.

Michal Kokta and Will Ward fought hard in the number one spot but fell to Florida's Ryan Sweeting and Vladimir Obradovic, 8-6 to give the Gators an early 1-0 lead.

In singles, the Bears looked hopeful until the very end. Matt Brown lost early to Florida's Chris Bradi in a 6-4, 6-2 decision but No. 31 Kokta answered for the Bears defeating No. 90 Obradovic 6-3, 6-2.

Florida took another win on the number two court when Baylor's No. 1 ranked Poerschke fell to Greg Ouellette 6-4, 6-2. The Bears picked up another win when No. 94 Portnov came back to defeat Holmia in a three-set match 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The doubles point was the deciding factor after Will Ward fought hard for the Bears but lost the clenching match to Florida's Briceno 6-3, 6-3. Zgaga picked up the third win for Baylor defeating Sweeting 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

The Bears will hit the road next weekend traveling to Virginia to take on University of Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 4 and Virginia Commonwealth on Feb. 5.

Live results will be posted at www.baylorbears.com.