DALLAS, TX – After earning the doubles point, the No. 37 University of San Diego men's tennis team won three singles matches to defeat SMU on the road, 4-1. The Toreros avenge last year's hard-fought 4-3 loss to the Mustangs after a near four-hour battle in 20 mph winds.
 
In doubles, USD earned a 6-4 win at No. 1 (Iiro Vasa/Sacchitt Sharrma) and a 6-3 win at No. 3 (Oliver Tarvet/Stian Klaassen).
 
In singles, SMU won at No. 5 to lock the match at 1-1. Sharrma quickly answered with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 4.
 
After Tarvet won in two sets at No. 2 by a score of 7-5, 6-0, Klaassen sealed the overall win with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 margin at No. 3.
 
"We played one of our most complete matches today on the road," said head coach Ryan Keckley. "We knew it was going to be a battle as SMU has played highly competitive matches that just haven't gone their way this season. Grant and Ben do a wonderful job with their team, especially their doubles which we hadn't beaten prior to today.
 
SMU came out flat and we took advantage of it by getting up early breaks on 1 and 3. We were fortunate to dig out some service games where we were down to secure the doubles point and head into singles 1-0. Iiro and Sacchitt played at a very high level against a very good SMU doubles pair at the #1 spot.
 
In singles, it was Sacchitt Sharrma who struck first. His intangibles were the difference in his battle. Ollie saved two set points the first set and after that ran away with the second set to put another point on the board. Stian Klaassen played an inspired third set. He competed within himself and played some of the best tennis I've seen him play to date. I'm thrilled with this road win against an SMU team who we have lost to the last two years in a row."
 
San Diego improves to 9-4, and has won six of its last seven matches.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
#37 San Diego 4, SMU 1
Mar 08, 2023 at Dallas, TX
 
Singles competition
1. Adam Neff (SMU) vs. #104 Iiro Vasa (USD-M) 4-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
2. Oliver Tarvet (USD-M) def. Liam Krall (SMU) 7-5, 6-0
3. Stian Klaassen (USD-M) def. Pranav Kumar (SMU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
4. Sacchitt Sharrma (USD-M) def. Antonio Muniz Hidalg (SMU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Julian Steinhausen (SMU) def. Marvin Schaber (USD-M) 7-5, 6-0
6. Louis Cloud (SMU) vs. Neo Niedner (USD-M) 6-4, 4-6, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Iiro Vasa/Sacchitt Sharrma (USD-M) def. Pranav Kumar/Adam Neff (SMU) 6-4
2. Julian Steinhausen/Kyle Sillman (SMU) def. Lambert Ruland/Marvin Schaber (USD-M) 6-3
3. Oliver Tarvet/Stian Klaassen (USD-M) def. Antonio Muniz Hidalg/Liam Krall (SMU) 6-3
 
Match Notes
San Diego 9-4; National ranking #37
SMU 7-7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,4,2,3)
 
UP NEXT
San Diego will return home to face No. 36 Oklahoma on Monday. First serve from the Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center is set for noon.