TUCSON, AZ – With five out of six singles matches going to a third set, No. 17 Arizona edged the University of San Diego men's tennis team, 4-2.
 
In the tightly contested three-and-a-half-hour match, Arizona secured the doubles point with a 6-4 win at No. 2 and a 7-6 (3) win at No. 1. At No. 3 doubles, Marvin Schaber and Stian Klaassen were up 6-4 in the tiebreaker. In total, the Toreros had three match points at both No. 1 and No. 3.
 
In singles play, San Diego dropped all six first sets, then bounced back with five wins in second sets. No. 68 Iiro Vasa earned a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 85 Colton Smith at No. 2 singles. At No. 6 singles, freshman Neo Niedner completed a ferocious comeback, 0-6, 6-4, 6-0. Redshirt freshman Stian Klaassen was leading 5-2 in his third set at No. 5, but eventually fell 7-6 (5).
 
"We will win a lot matches moving forward if we compete like we did today as a team," said head coach Ryan Keckley. "We dug ourselves into another hole during our first sets of singles after missing some opportunities to secure the doubles point.  We scratched and clawed our way out of it as we got more comfortable in the challenging conditions to win 5 of the 6 second sets. We need to seize the opportunities when they present themselves. Good teams like Arizona might only give you one opportunity a match, but when they show their hand, you need to go all in and believe in yourself."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
San Diego vs University of Arizona
Feb 05, 2023 at Tucson, AZ
(LaNelle Robson Tennis Center)
 
#17 University of Arizona 4, San Diego 2
 
Singles competition
1. #19 Jonas Ziverts (ARIZ) def. Oliver Tarvet (USD-M) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
2. #68 Iiro Vasa (USD-M) def. #85 Colton Smith (ARIZ) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
3. #117 Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) def. Marvin Schaber (USD-M) 6-4, 6-2
4. #74 Nick Lagaev (ARIZ) vs. Sacchitt Sharrma (USD-M) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 3-0, unfinished
5. #78 Jay Friend (ARIZ) def. Stian Klaassen (USD-M) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Neo Niedner (USD-M) def. Inaki Cabrera-Bello (ARIZ) 0-6, 6-4, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Jonas Ziverts/Jay Friend (ARIZ) def. Sacchitt Sharrma/Iiro Vasa (USD-M) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Colton Smith/Jared Horwood (ARIZ) def. Oliver Tarvet/Lambert Ruland (USD-M) 6-4
3. Stian Klaassen/Marvin Schaber (USD-M) vs. Eric Padgham/Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) 6-6, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,6,2,5,1)
 
UP NEXT
San Diego will return home to face Pacific on Saturday, February 11.