May 10, 2014
Complete Results
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No. 39 University of San Diego men's tennis team (18-7, 9-0 WCC) topped the No. 25 Boise State Broncos (28-6) Saturday afternoon at the Los Angeles Tennis Center in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Today's win marked the fourth year in the row the Toreros have made it to the second round of the NCAAs.
After suffering a 2-0 deficit early in the match, the Toreros' top of the lineup brought back the momentum to secure one of their biggest wins of the season 4-2.
Although the No. 36-ranked duo of senior Clarke Spinosa and freshman Filip Vittek got the Toreros on the board in doubles, the Broncos equalized the score after Boise State's Brendan McClain and Garrett Patton knocked off sophomores Uros Petronijevic and Romain Kalaydjian 8-4. The deciding match would go the Bronco's way - topping juniors Ciaran Fitzgerald and Andrew Raphaelson 8-5.
In singles, the Broncos' Toby Mitchell picked up the first point to extend their lead 2-0, getting the victory over Raphaelson 6-3, 6-3. Petronijevic brought the Torero's momentum back in motion after an impressive 6-3, 6-4 victory over Nathan Sereke. Kalaydjian soon followed taking down Garrett Patton 7-6(6), 6-3.
With the score at 2-2, two out of three matches were in heated third sets. Despite losing the first set, Vittek came back taking the match against Broncos' Thomas Tenreiro 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. While down on court five, it was 58th ranked Spinosa who secured the win. Spinosa edged out No. 87 Andy Bettles 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
"This team has incredible fight," Head coach Brett Masi said after the match. "All year they go to battle and don't give up. So proud of their wins today. It's a great day for USD and the program, making the second round of the NCAAs for the fourth year in a row."
To make the day even sweeter, Spinosa's clincher marked his 100th singles win in his career, tying the most career wins in USD's record books (Jose Luis Noriega 100, 1989-1992 and Dean Jackson 100, 2008-2011).
"Happy for Clarke tying the record with that clinching win," Masi expressed. "He deserves it. We have a chance to make history tomorrow when we play UCLA and I know the guys are ready for it."
The Toreros will face No. 5 UCLA tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. PT.
Final Results
San Diego 4, Boise State 2
Doubles Competition
1. #36 Spinosa/Vittek (USD) def. Bettles/Tenreiro (BSU), 8-4
2. McClain/Patton (BSU) def. Kalaydjian/Petronijevic (USD), 8-4
3. Mitchell/Sereke (BSU) def. Fitzgerald/Raphaelson (USD), 8-5
Singles Competition
1. #58 Clarke Spinosa (USD) def. #87 Andy Bettles (BSU), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
2. Uros Petronijevic (USD) def. Nathan Sereke (BSU), 6-3, 6-4
3. Filip Vittek (USD) def. Thomas Tenreiro (BSU), 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
4. Romain Kalaydjian (USD) def. Garrett Patton (BSU), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
5. Brendan McClain (BSU) vs. Ciaran Fitzgerald (USD), 7-6 (7-5), 5-1 DNF
6. Toby Mitchell (BSU) def. Andrew Raphaelson (USD), 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1, 2, 3); Singles (6, 2, 4, 3, 1)
