SAN DIEGO – San Diego men's tennis returned with a bang as the No. 8 Toreros downed the No. 16 Baylor Bears in the season opener at Hogan Tennis Center Tuesday.
 
After a four-hour comeback road win at the Bears' place last season in which USD trailed 1-3 and dropped all six singles first sets, this season's edition of the duel was another nail-biter.

"Three-and-a-half hours in, the match could have gone either way," 11th-year Head Coach Ryan Keckley said. "I knew this one would be decided in a handful of uncomfortable moments, and our boys rose to the occasion when the pressure was mounting. Proud of the group as this was a gritty win to kick off the year."

The drama started in doubles after San Diego's lone ranked tandem of sophomore Adrien Berrut and redshirt junior Lambert Ruland struck first with a 6-2 win on court win but were equalized on court three. That left it to the USD Dutch duo of redshirt senior Stian Klaassen and freshman Manvydas Balciunas, who clutched the season's first point with a 6-3 win.
 
Balciunas carried the momentum over to singles to collect his first career collegiate win, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 over ITA No. 44 Alexandru Chirita on court four. That would be the lone match to finish in two sets, however.
 
Baylor pulled one back on court two, only for Klaassen to respond with a massive upset on court three. The All-American toppled No. 17 Connor Van Schalkwyk in a third set tiebreaker, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
 
The guests answered again, taking No. 5 singles in three sets. It was senior captain, 2024 fall National Champion, multiple-time All-American, Wimbledon qualifier Ollie Tarvet who clinched the match for the Toreros. In his return to America's Most Beautiful campus after bypassing the fall season for pro opportunities, the unranked Tarvet took down No. 8 Devin Badenhorst, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
 
With the dual match already won for the Toreros, the last match remaining would be played out as reigning WCC Freshman of the Year Adrien Berrut claimed another third set thriller on court six, to settle the overall score at 5-2 Toreros.

"It's exciting to welcome some new faces into the program, but we also know there's plenty of work ahead to reach the level this team is capable of by May," Keckley said. "Baylor is a tough, talented, team and today we caught a few breaks when it mattered most, with three of five third sets and three of four tiebreakers falling in the Toreros' favor."
 
Up Next
In another rematch from last year's historic season, the Toreros will be playing with extra fuel on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. at USC as they will look for revenge for the heartbreaking elimination from the 2025 NCAA Tournament last May.
 
Results
#8 San Diego 5, #16 Baylor 2
 
Singles
1. Oliver Tarvet (USD) def. #8 Devin Badenhorst (BU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
2. #108 Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. Vincent Marysko (USD) 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-1
3. Stian Klaassen (USD) def. #17 Connor Van Schalkwyk (BU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Manvydas Balciunas (USD) def. #44 Alexandru Chirita (BU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
5. Luc Koenig (BU) def. Neo Niedner (USD) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3
6. Adrien Berrut (USD) def. Louis Bowden (BU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
 
Doubles
1. #71 Adrien Berrut/Lambert Ruland (USD) def. Luc Koenig/Devin Badenhorst (BU) 6-2
2. Stian Klaassen/Manvydas Balciunas (USD) def. Alexandru Chirita/Zsombor Velcz (BU) 6-3
3. Connor Van Schalkwyk/Blake Anderson (BU) def. Oliver Tarvet/Vincent Marysko (USD) 6-3
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,3,1,5,6)