SAN DIEGO – Bouncing back from a tough loss just two days prior, 10th-ranked San Diego men's tennis team proceeded to take down No. 17 Arizona in a 4-1 victory Sunday at Hogan Tennis Center.

"I want to start by thanking everyone who came out to support us today," head coach Ryan Keckley said. "The crowd was outstanding, and that energy absolutely helped us get across the finish line. Credit to Arizona for an incredible match – when you compete against a program of that caliber, you know nothing comes easy."

Despite losing the first set in doubles on main court, the Toreros came back to clinch the dual's first point with wins on courts two and three. Oliver Tarvet and Vincent Marysko exploded for four straight games en route to a 6-3 victory. In between all the action was the Dutch pairing of Manvydas Balciunas and Stian Klaassen, who, after being tied 5-5, came out with the clutch 7-5, doubles-clinching win.

"I was especially proud of how we handled the pressure in doubles, securing the point with all eyes on court two," said Keckley. "For Stian and Manvy [Balciunas] to turn around and put points on the board created real momentum and applied pressure across the lineup."

The duo that gave USD the lead in doubles play further expanded that lead with impressive showings in singles play to give the Toreros a 3-0 lead. Balciunas, a sophomore, stayed undefeated on the season with a thumping start, dropping just one total game to double the Toreros' lead.

After a heartbreaking loss as the last court on Friday, Klaassen showcased his All-American mindset, going back to winning ways with a dominant 6-1 first set, then a 6-2 match-winning second set.

Tarvet battled in a star-studded matchup against the ITA's 4th-ranked Jay Friend but ultimately lost to a pair of 4-6 sets, trimming the lead 3-1. Right beside the main court was freshman Marysko, also facing off against a ranked opponent in a thrilling matchup. Against the national No. 58, Marysko was tested, winning the first set 7-5 before going to a tiebreaker in the second set. At the brink of losing the set, Marysko pulled through with his first career victory against a ranked opponent, an 8-6 finish in the tiebreaker to clinch San Diego the 4-1 win.

"Vincent was tremendous, fighting off five set points in the second set to secure the fourth point," said Keckley. "That's never an easy position for a January freshman, but experiences like that build confidence fast, and this win will serve him well moving forward."
 
While the remaining games were left unfinished, they weren't left without excitement, as both Neo Niedner and Adrien Berrut fell in their first sets but fought back in the second set. Niedner was up 6-5 in his second set, and Berrut had just finished a 7-6 (7-3) tiebreaker second set.
 
Up Next
San Diego men's tennis hosts another pair of games next weekend, starting off against UC Irvine on Friday, Feb. 6 at 12 p.m. before taking on No. 23 Cal on Sunday, Feb. 8, also at noon. 
 
Results
#10 San Diego 4, #17 Arizona 1
 
Doubles
1. Glib Sekachov/Filip Gustafsson (UAZ) def. #71 Adrien Berrut/Lambert Ruland (USD-M) 6-4
2. Manvydas Balciunas/Stian Klaassen (USD-M) def. Zoran Ludoski/Alexander Rozin (UAZ) 7-5
3. Oliver Tarvet/Vincent Marysko (USD-M) def. Alejandro Arcila/Jay Friend (UAZ) 6-3
 
Singles
1. #4 Jay Friend (UAZ) def. Oliver Tarvet (USD) 6-4, 6-4
2. Vincent Marysko (USD) def. #58 Filip Gustafsson (UAZ) 7-5, 7-6 (8-6)
3. Manvydas Balciunas (USD) def. Alexander Rozin (UAZ) 6-0, 6-1
4. Stian Klaassen (USD) def. Zoran Ludoski (UAZ) 6-1, 6-2
5. Neo Niedner (USD) vs. Glib Sekachov (UAZ) 3-6, 6-5, unfinished
6. Adrien Berrut (USD) vs. Alejandro Arcila (UAZ) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 0-1, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
Arizona 5-4; National ranking #17
San Diego 4-2; National ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,4,1,2)