WACO, Texas – After back-to-back days with three-plus hour battles against top-10 teams, the Toreros took care of business quickly Saturday, sweeping No. 21 UCF 4-0 and only dropping one set in the ITA Team Indoor National Championships consolation match.
It's the Toreros' sixth top-25 win of the season, second in dominant 4-0 fashion. USD rebounds to 9-1 on the season following its first loss yesterday, 2-4 to No. 1 TCU, in the team's first ITA Indoors quarterfinal in program history.
"I thought we did about as good of a job preparing for a short turnaround as we could," USD Head Coach
Ryan Keckley said. "These are the matches where your logo has to mean everything. You aren't playing for anything; it's the back draw. You are mentally and physically drained from the travel and competition. These are the days where you see who is tougher and who wants it more."
The Knights would be no easy matchup, having already beaten the likes of No. 4 Ohio State 4-2 on Friday and No. 6 Arizona 4-3 on Jan. 26.
San Diego got out front early, however, taking a 1-0 lead by way of the doubles point with a pair of 6-3 victories on courts two and three. The top-ranked duo's match on one was a game away from a dub, but would go unfinished.
In singles play, the T-Ros made it eight straight sets won as they took all six first sets. Grad
Savriyan Danilov was the first to finish as he cruised on court two, 6-0, 6-3. Freshman
Adrien Berrut continued his excellent weekend on court five, topping the Knights' Giamichelle 6-4, 6-2 to push the lead to three.
"We took six first sets and never took our foot off the gas pedal," Keckley said. "Great to see Savi [Danilov] get us on the board after a tough weekend of competition. Adrien really found his stride as he went 4-0 in singles and doubles this weekend."
It was the undefeated and national No. 2 Tarvet who clinched the USD victory, winning on main court, 6-4, 6-3.
"During this tournament Ollie [Tarvet] hands down proved he is one of the best competitors and players in the country," Keckley added. "He does so much for this team from an energy standpoint. It's been inspiring to see his growth as a leader and as a tennis player. Big things await this young man."
Up Next
The Toreros remain on the road in the desert, taking on current No. 10 Arizona on Friday at 2 p.m. in Tucson, Ariz. and No. 24 Arizona State on Sunday, Feb. 23 at noon in Tempe, Ariz..
Results
#9 San Diego 4, #21 UCF 0
Doubles
- #1 Oliver Tarvet/Stian Klaassen (USD) vs. Liam Branger/Paul Colin (UCF), 5-2 unfinished
- Savriyan Danilov/Iiro Vasa (USD) def. Mehdi Benchakroun/Santiago Giamichelle (UCF), 6-3
- Nikhil Niranjan/Adrien Berrut (USD) def. Yassine Dlimi/Emilio Sanchez (UCF), 6-3
Singles
- #2 Oliver Tarvet (USD) def. Yassini Dlimi (UCF), 6-4, 6-3
- #34 Savriyan Danilov (USD) def. Paul Colin (UCF), 6-0, 6-3
- Iiro Vasa (USD) vs. #108 Mehdi Benchakroun (UCF), 7-5, 3-3 unfinished
- #94 Stian Klaassen (USD) vs. Liam Branger (UCF), 6-3, 5-4 unfinished
- Adrien Berrit (USD) def. Santiago Giamichelle (UCF), 6-4, 6-2
- Neo Niedner (USD) vs. Emilio Sanchez (UCF), 6-3, 4-6, 0-0 unfinished
Order of finish – Doubles: 3, 2; Singles: 2, 5, 1
