March 11, 2010
SAN DIEGO - The 45th ranked University of San Diego men's tennis team, competing in its first match since breaking in the Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings, fell just short Thursday evening against the University of South Carolina Upstate, dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker while playing at the host site of Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma.
The Toreros drop to an overall mark of 7-3, while the Spartans earn their ninth duel match of the 2010 spring season, improving to a record of 8-4.
San Diego looked strong out of the gate, taking the initial doubles point with straight wins. At Court #3, Torero tandem of Abdullah Hashem and Thibaut Visy eclipsed the Spartan pairing of Jack Roux and Marco Liconir, 8-2. Locking in the point at Court #2, Charl Wolmarans and Nikola Bubnic disposed of Edgar Rodriguez and Ramiro Blanco, 8-6
South Carolina would come roaring back in singles action, taking a 2-1 lead after wrapping up the first two matches of the individual competition.
Steadying the ship for San Diego, 86th ranked Bubnic, although extended the full three, powered past Rodriguez for his second win of the day and his eighth singles victory of the 2010 duel match slate.
But the Spartans rebounded quickly, as Blanco downed Hashem at Court #5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Then, over at Court #3, Visy could not outlast Javier Tori, dropping a three set decision to his USC Upstate counterpart. With the win, South Carolina would secure the match victory, with one more contest to go.
Wrapping up the duel at Court #1, Dean Jackson in a marathon of a match, speared Spartan Renzo Airaldi for a three set victory. Jackson would surrender the first set, dropping the tiebreaker, but came right back, taking the next set and an 7-6(4) third set triumph.
USD will have a day's rest before returning to the courts on Saturday for a match against top-ranked Arizona, held at the USD West Tennis Courts. Match time is set for 1 p.m.
USC Upstate 4, USD 3
Thursday, March 11
Barnes Tennis Center - San Diego, Calif.
DOUBLES
1. Airaldi/Tori (USC Upstate) def. Jackson/Schive (USD) - 9-7
2. Bubnic/Wolmarans (USD) def. Blanco/Rodriguez (USC Upstate) - 8-6
3. Hashem/Visy (USD) def. Linconir/Roux (USC Upstate) - 8-2
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
USD wins doubles point.
SINGLES
1. Dean Jackson (USD) def. Renzo Airaldi (USC Upstate) - 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(4)
2. #86 Nikola Bubnic (USD) def. Edgar Rodriguez (USC Upstate) - 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
3. Javier Tori (USC Upstate) def. Thibaut Visy (USD) - 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
4. Jack Roux (USC Upstate) def. Nils Schive (USD) - 6-3, 6-2
5. Ramiro Blanco (USC Upstate) def. Abdullah Hashem (USD) - 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Marco Liconir (USC Upstate) def. Casey Powers (USD) - 6-3, 6-2
Order of Finish: 4, 6, 2, 5, 3, 1
USC Upstate wins match, 4-3.
Records: USD 7-3, USC Upstate 9-4
