Florida State University Athletics
Florida State Duo Advances To NCAA Semifinals
11/22/2024 4:46:00 PM | Men's Tennis
WACO, Texas – The Florida State doubles pair of Youcef Rihane and Alex Bulte earned a 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (7) victory Friday to advance to the semifinal round of the doubles bracket at the NCAA Men's Tennis Individual Championships.
Rihane and Bulte extended their winning streak to six consecutive doubles contests, including all three of their matchups in the NCAA Tournament, by defeating Luciano Tacchi and Luca Pow from Wake Forest. After dropping the first set, the FSU duo pulled away from a 4-4 tie in the second set. The Seminoles took a 5-4 lead by holding serve at love and then won the deuce point in the next game to finish off the second set.
In the deciding super-tiebreaker for the third set, Wake Forest jumped ahead 2-0 before back-to-back points from FSU tied the frame at 2-2. Wake Forest won the next point and took its final lead of the match at 3-2. Rihane and Bulte responded by winning four straight points for a 6-3 lead. The next 10 points of the set were traded two at a time as Wake Forest twice cut FSU's lead to one point only to see the Seminoles pull ahead with consecutive points each time, culminating in a 10-7 final margin.
Newcomer Corey Craig, the 2024 Patriot League Player of the Year at Boston University, completed his first fall in the Garnet and Gold dropping a 6-3, 6-2 decision to No. 26 Dhakshineswar Suresh from Wake Forest in the quarterfinal round of the singles bracket. Craig, who earned the highest-ranked win of his collegiate career in the Round of 16 with a win over the nation's No. 11-ranked singles player, finishes the fall season with an 8-2 record in singles play.
All three of Florida State's quarterfinalists have earned All-America status, giving FSU a program-record five All-Americans in the 2024 calendar year. Craig, Rihane and Bulte pushed Florida State's all-time All-America total to 12.
Rihane and Bulte will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between pairs from Michigan and UCLA on Saturday. The times for the semifinal matches will be announced after all matchups have been set.
NCAA – Men's Doubles Main Draw - Quarterfinal
#41 Youcef Rihane/Alex Bulte (FSU) def. #72 Luciano Tacchi/Luca Pow (WF) 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (7)
NCAA – Men's Singles Main Draw - Quarterfinal
#26 Dhakshineswar Suresh (WF) def. Corey Craig (FSU) 6-3, 6-2
For more information on the Florida State men's tennis program, check Seminoles.com and follow us on social media at FSUMTennis (IG) and @FSUMTennis (X).
Rihane and Bulte extended their winning streak to six consecutive doubles contests, including all three of their matchups in the NCAA Tournament, by defeating Luciano Tacchi and Luca Pow from Wake Forest. After dropping the first set, the FSU duo pulled away from a 4-4 tie in the second set. The Seminoles took a 5-4 lead by holding serve at love and then won the deuce point in the next game to finish off the second set.
In the deciding super-tiebreaker for the third set, Wake Forest jumped ahead 2-0 before back-to-back points from FSU tied the frame at 2-2. Wake Forest won the next point and took its final lead of the match at 3-2. Rihane and Bulte responded by winning four straight points for a 6-3 lead. The next 10 points of the set were traded two at a time as Wake Forest twice cut FSU's lead to one point only to see the Seminoles pull ahead with consecutive points each time, culminating in a 10-7 final margin.
Newcomer Corey Craig, the 2024 Patriot League Player of the Year at Boston University, completed his first fall in the Garnet and Gold dropping a 6-3, 6-2 decision to No. 26 Dhakshineswar Suresh from Wake Forest in the quarterfinal round of the singles bracket. Craig, who earned the highest-ranked win of his collegiate career in the Round of 16 with a win over the nation's No. 11-ranked singles player, finishes the fall season with an 8-2 record in singles play.
All three of Florida State's quarterfinalists have earned All-America status, giving FSU a program-record five All-Americans in the 2024 calendar year. Craig, Rihane and Bulte pushed Florida State's all-time All-America total to 12.
Rihane and Bulte will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between pairs from Michigan and UCLA on Saturday. The times for the semifinal matches will be announced after all matchups have been set.
NCAA – Men's Doubles Main Draw - Quarterfinal
#41 Youcef Rihane/Alex Bulte (FSU) def. #72 Luciano Tacchi/Luca Pow (WF) 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (7)
NCAA – Men's Singles Main Draw - Quarterfinal
#26 Dhakshineswar Suresh (WF) def. Corey Craig (FSU) 6-3, 6-2
For more information on the Florida State men's tennis program, check Seminoles.com and follow us on social media at FSUMTennis (IG) and @FSUMTennis (X).
Players Mentioned
EYES UP: An FSU Football Series | East Texas A&M Sneak Peek
Wednesday, September 10
DL Jayson Jenkins: “We have to play hard and that’s our identity"
Wednesday, September 10
LB Stefon Thompson: "Same standard and energy"
Wednesday, September 10
HC Mike Norvell: "It has to be about us"
Wednesday, September 10