SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco men's tennis team opened conference action with a tough 6-1 decision in favor of the visiting Santa Clara Broncos Friday.
The Dons move to an even 5-5 on the year and 0-1 in West Coast Conference action, while Santa Clara improves to 9-1 (2-0 WCC). The Broncos, ranked 43rd in the latest ITA Tennis team rankings have won their last eight matches by a combined score of 39-3.
USF earned its lone point of the day from the No. 3 singles position, as
James Tallman defeated Ashot Khacharayn 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. The redshirt junior from Del Paso Heights, Calif., won his third-straight match, improving to 12-5 on the year, including the fall.
Singles matches from
Bernardo Saraiva,
Nils Skajaa and
Rich Van Hout also went the distance, but their competitors from Santa Clara went away with the points. Tallman, alongside partner
Thomas Takemoto, also took a win in No. 3 doubles, defeating Mikheil Khmiadashvilli and Jesse Ross, 7-5. The match was the first time the duo had been paired together on the season.
USF has a quick turnaround before its next match, facing Sacramento State Friday as the Hornets host the Dons.
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Santa Clara 6, San Francisco 1
March 7 | Cal Tennis Club | San Francisco
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Singles
No. 1 – John Lamble (SCU) def.
Bernardo Saraiva (USF); 3-6, 6-4, 10-8
No. 2 – Ilya Osintsev (SCU) def.
Nils Skajaa (USF); 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 3 –
James Tallman (USF) def. Ashot Khacharyan (SCU); 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
No. 4 – Mikheil Khmiadashvilli (SCU) def.
Germain Bahri (USF); 6-1, 6-4
No. 5 – Sam Bertram (SCU) def.
Thomas Takemoto (SCU); 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 – Jesse Ross (SCU) def.
Rich Van Hout (USF); 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3
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Doubles
No. 1 – John Lamble/Ilya Osintsev (SCU) def.
Bernardo Saraiva/
Nils Skajaa (USF); 8-5
No. 2 – Sam Bertram/Ashot Khacharyan (SCU) def.
Christian Brockstedt/
Germain Bahri (USF); 8-3
No. 3 –
Thomas Takemoto/
James Tallman (USF) def. Mikheil Khmiadashvilli/Jesse Ross (SCU); 7-5
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