SAN DIEGO – In the final day of the Ed Collins Spring Classic, the No. 34 University of San Diego men's tennis team earned a convincing win over No. 35 Tulane, 4-0.
 
The Toreros took an exciting doubles point, beginning with a 6-3 at No. 2 (Marvin Schaber/Lambert Ruland). After Tulane edged USD at No. 1 by a score of 7-6, Oliver Tarvet and Nikhil Niranjan clinched the point at No. 3, 7-6.
 
In singles play, San Diego won all six first sets. Redshirt junior Marvin Schaber extended USD's lead to 2-0 with a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 4.
 
Freshman Neo Niedner followed with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 5, and freshman Lambert Ruland clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-4 margin at No. 6.
 
"Really strong performance against a highly competitive Tulane group," said head coach Ryan Keckley. "The boys really stepped up and got the energy going from the very beginning! Nikhil Niranjan earned us the first point by playing some inspiring doubles, especially during the tiebreaker. Nikhil works day in and day out and when his number got called today, he was ready to put the team on his back. In singles, we took it to them by taking all six first sets.  We provided a lot of scoreboard pressure early during the singles point. Our team identity stood up to their momentum push about 2.5 hours into it as we were able to secure the last point on Lambert's court. Congrats are in order to Marvin Schaber as he went 6-0 on the weekend. He has been putting in the work daily, so it was great to see him confident and playing within himself this weekend."
 
San Diego improves to 12-5, and will travel to Gonzaga next Saturday. The Toreros have won nine of their last 11 matches.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
#34 San Diego 4, #35 Tulane Men 0
Mar 19, 2023 at San Diego, CA (Hogan Tennis Center)
 
Singles competition
1. #104 Iiro Vasa (USD-M) vs. #80 Fynn Kuenkler (MTLN) 6-4, 0-6, 1-0, unfinished
2. Oliver Tarvet (USD-M) vs. Luka Petrovic (MTLN) 6-1, 6-5, unfinished
3. Sacchitt Sharrma (USD-M) vs. Billy Suarez (MTLN) 6-4, 5-3, unfinished
4. Marvin Schaber (USD-M) def. Luc Hoeijmans (MTLN) 6-4, 6-0
5. Neo Niedner (USD-M) def. Alex Bancila (MTLN) 6-4, 6-2
6. Lambert Ruland (USD-M) def. Rafael de Alba (MTLN) 6-2, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Charlie Barry/Benji Jacobson (MTLN) def. Iiro Vasa/Sacchitt Sharrma (USD-M) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Marvin Schaber/Lambert Ruland (USD-M) def. Fynn Kuenkler/Luka Petrovic (MTLN) 6-3
3. Oliver Tarvet/Nikhil Niranjan (USD-M) def. Billy Suarez/Rafael de Alba (MTLN) 7-6 (7-3)
 
Match Notes
Tulane 10-7; National ranking #35
San Diego 12-5; National ranking #34
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,5,6)
T-2:53
 
UP NEXT
San Diego will play four straight WCC road contests, beginning at Gonzaga on Saturday, March 25.