March 7, 2005
By Roland Hu, USD Media Relations
San Diego, Calif. - Facing its third ranked opponent in five days, the University of San Diego had reason to worry. Not only were the 21st-ranked Washington Huskies one of the hottest teams in the country, with an impressive record of 10-2, but they also had three ranked singles players within the Top 40. However, it turns out that the Toreros had nothing to worry about, disposing of their Pacific Northwest rivals by a score of 5-2. Playing with the intensity and enthusiasm of an NCAA Tournament match, San Diego turned in one of its best performances in recent memory.
"In my eight years here at San Diego, this was the best win I've ever been involved in," declared assistant head coach Ron Jenkins. "This was the best overall performance that I've seen, from top to bottom: doubles, singles, in effort and intensity. We were really consistent and battled all the way through. We fought for every point."
The afternoon began on a high note for the Toreros, as both the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles teams staked out a 3-0 lead on their way to capturing the doubles point. Juniors Oscar Plotnik and Pierrick Ysern dominated Andy Kuharszky and Alex Slovic on Court 2 with an 8-2 win. Coming into the afternoon, Kuharszky and Slovic were 10-0 on the year before they ran into the Torero duo. Senior Robbie Blair and freshman Thomas Liversage put away Christoph Palmanshofer and Mike Ricks 8-3 at the No. 3 spot to take the doubles portion of the match. Senior Nic Beuque and junior Mirza Koristovic pulled out an impressive 8-6 victory over Daniel Chu and Alex Vlaski at the No. 1 position to complete the sweep.
Washington would bounce right back in singles play, as Vlaski took out Ysern at Court 1 6-1, 6-0 to even the match at 1-1. However, San Diego would then win four out of the next five matches to win the contest. First off the court for the home team was Liversage, who defeated Peter Scharler at the No. 5 position 6-3, 6-2. Blair helped the Torero cause by winning 6-2, 6-2 over Chu at the No. 4 spot and Beuque clinched the match with his thrilling 7-6, 6-2 victory over Slovic at the No. 2 position.
"I knew I had to win to clinch the match. It doesn't get any better than this," said Beuque. "That's really why you want to play, to clinch the match, to win the deciding match. So it's a great feeling."
Koristovic, who played at No. 3, continued to add to the Torero win count, as he overcame a first set loss to dismiss Palmanshofer 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. The Huskies secured a victory at No. 6 to account for the final margin, as Kuharszky squeaked by Plotnik 1-6, 6-4, 7-6. San Diego, winner of four straight matches, improves to 4-3, while Washington drops to 10-3 on the year.
The Toreros return to action on Thursday, March 10 when they host unranked Yale University at the USD West Tennis Courts. Game time is 1:30 P.M.
Doubles (USD wins the doubles point)
1. Nic Beuque/Mirza Koristovic (USD) vs. Daniel Chu/Alex Vlaski (UW), 8-6
2. Oscar Plotnik/Pierrick Ysern (USD) def. Andy Kuharszky/Alex Slovic (UW), 8-2
3. Robbie Blair/Thomas Liversage (USD) def. Christoph Palmanshofer/Mike Ricks (UW), 8-3
Singles
1. Alex Vlaski (UW) def. Pierrick Ysern (USD), 6-1, 6-0
2. Nic Beuque (USD) vs. Alex Slovic (UW), 7-6, 6-3
3. Mirza Koristovic (USD) vs. Christoph Palmanshofer (UW), 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. Robbie Blair (USD) def. Daniel Chu (UW), 6-2, 6-2
5. Thomas Liversage (USD) def. Peter Scharler (UW), 6-3, 6-2
6. Andy Kuharszky (UW) def, Oscar Plotnik (USD), 1-6, 6-4, 7-6
