WACO, Texas – After dropping all six first sets in singles and down 1-3 in the match, the 10
th-ranked Toreros stormed all the way back to win the last three matches and clinch their fourth straight win away from home, third comeback in that span.
"Incredible to see these guys continue to fight through adversity on the road," USD Head Coach
Ryan Keckley said. "To go down six first sets and win say a lot about our culture and the grit of this program."
Nobody captured that perseverance more than junior
Neo Niedner, playing at the last singles spot. The hero that clinched in the win over No. 10 Florida State last weekend, sports the cape again, coming back from down 0-4 in the third set, winning on a fifth match point 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) to tie the match.
It was grad
Savriyan Danilov that clinched the winning fourth point, however. After going the distance in the first two sets with Zsombor Velcz, Velcz likely experienced cramps after going up 2-0 in the third set, limiting mobility. Danilov would win the next six games to clinch the USD win.
Junior
Oliver Tarvet also had another big day to remain undefeated on the season, starting with a doubles win. Tarvet combines with redshirt-junior
Stian Klaassen to make the nation's No. 1 duo and topped the ITA No. 3 doubles team, 7-5, proving their rank and clinching the doubles point.
Tarvet also secured another top-25 win in singles play. The ITA No. 15 Brit topped the Bears' Devin Badenhorst 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 on main court.
Also in doubles, redshirt-junior
Nikhil Niranjan made his season debut, pairing with freshman
Adrien Berrut to win 6-3 on court three to start the afternoon.
"Ollie [Tarvet], Savi [Danilov] and Neo handled the moment and pressure down the stretch like the veterans they are," said Keckley. "So proud of these guys, but we have a lot of work to do. We played protective tennis in big moments throughout the match and that will get you nowhere with the schedule we have. Great teams like Baylor won't give you matches, you have to take them. We'll get back to work this Sunday against SMU."
Up Next
The Toreros stay in the Lone Star State, taking on a talented SMU squad in Dallas on Sunday at noon, looking to improve to 6-0.
Results
No. 10 San Diego 4, Baylor 3
Singles
- #1 Stian Klaassen / Oliver Tarvet [USD] def. #3 Os Brostrom Poulsen / Marko Miladinovic [Baylor], 7-5
- #88 Savriyan Danilov / Iiro Vasa [USD] vs. Devin Badenhorst / Luc Koenig [Baylor], 6-6 (5-4) unfinished
- Adrien Berrut / Nikhil Niranjan [USD] def. Louis Bowden / Alexandru Chirita [Baylor], 6-3
Doubles
- #15 Oliver Tarvet [USD] def. #25 Devin Badenhorst [Baylor], 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
- #58 Os Brostrom Poulsen [Baylor] def. Iiro Vasa [San Diego], 6-4, 6-1
- #29 Savriyan Danilov [USD] def. #54 Zsombor Velcz [Baylor], 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (9-7), 6-2
- Luc Koenig [Baylor] def. #71 Stian Klaassen [USD], 6-4, 6-3
- Alexandru Chirita [Baylor] def. Adrien Berrut [USD], 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
- Neo Niedner [USD] def. Marko Miladinovic [Baylor], 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
Order of finish – Doubles: 3,1; Singles: 2, 4, 5, 1, 6, 3
