SAN DIEGO – San Diego men's tennis started its West Coast Conference title defense with a 4-0 sweep of LMU on Sunday at the Hogan Tennis Center.
 
USD (5-3) earned its second sweep in as many days by taking the doubles point for the sixth time this year and then doing quick work at No. 3, 5 and 6.
 
"It was a great few days for the boys," said USD head coach Ryan Keckley. "We knew that we would be tested in both matches this weekend, and we came ready to compete as a team. I thought we did a great job handling the energy and sticking to what we practice. Our doubles looked sharp, which always helps the momentum heading into singles. And then we fought off LMU's early push as a unit and found a way to capture four first sets."
 
The Toreros, which have won 17 in a row against LMU (3-3), took the important 1-0 lead after doubles thanks to Joel Gamerov and August Holmgren winning 6-0 over Austin Di Giulio and Ethan Prost at No. 2 and Marvin Schaber and David Norfeldt taking down Lucas Moreno and Emin Torlic 6-1 at No. 3.
 
For Gamerov and Holmgren, they improved to 2-0 this season when playing the No. 2 spot (4-2 overall).
 
In singles, Gamerov and Schaber consecutively won at No. 3 and 6, respectively, to give the Toreros a commanding 3-0 advantage. Gamerov put away Moreno 6-2, 6-1 – and remained undefeated in singles this dual season (7-0) – while Schaber won moments later 6-4, 6-2 against Torlic.
 
"I can't say enough about Joel and how he has handled himself this year," added Keckley. "He has been an absolute lock in singles and doubles and is leading out there every way he can."
 
Norfeldt clinched the match with his second singles victory of the year by topping Thien Nguyen at No. 5 6-2, 6-2.
 
Holmgren, ranked No. 102 in the nation, was nearing completion of his match before Norfeldt ended the contest. He was up 7-5, 5-2 against Diego Nava at No. 1.
 
The Toreros enter a seven-day break before they play at UC Santa Barbara on Monday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m.
 
Results (in order of finish)
Doubles
No. 2: Holmgren/Gamerov (USD) def. Di Giulio/Prost (LMU) 6-0
No. 3: Schaber/Norfeldt (USD) def. Moreno/Torlic (LMU) 6-1
 
No. 1: #31 Borter/Osorio (USD) vs. Nava/Nguyen (LMU) 3-3 unfinished
 
Singles
No. 3: Joel Gamerov (USD) vs. Lucas Moreno (LMU) 6-2, 6-1
No. 6: Marvin Schaber (USD) vs. Emin Torlic (LMU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 5: David Norfeldt (USD) vs. Thien Nguyen (LMU) 6-2, 6-2
 
No. 1: #102 August Holmgren (USD) vs. Diego Nava (LMU) 7-5, 5-2 unfinished
No. 2: #62 Gui Osorio (USD) vs. Keenan Mayo (LMU) 4-6, 0-1 unfinished
No. 4: Nico Borter (USD) vs. Austin Di Giulio (LMU) 1-6, 5-2 unfinished