Men's Tennis | 2/25/2017 8:03:00 PM

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – The San Francisco men's tennis team hosted a pair of competitors at one of the most scenic locations around, as the Dons welcomed UC Santa Barbara and Grand Canyon to the courts of Pebble Beach.

Despite the beauty surrounding the Dons, the squad couldn't find the flow, falling to the Gauchos, 6-1, and dropping a close decision to the Lopes, 4-2, to close the day.

"UCSB was just a little better than us in most positions, first off," reflected USF head coach Pablo Pires Almeida. "JJ won a solid match at No. 1, which was a very good win over a tough senior for Santa Barbara."

Highlights against UC Santa Barbara came at the No. 3 doubles position as Christian Brockstedt and Oliver Poysti teamed up for the 6-3 victory over Cody Rakela and Teague Hamilton. In singles play, Johan Joenhagen gutted out the 7-6(3), 7-5 victory over Morgan Mays to cap the match and earn USF's lone point.

In the afternoon session against Grand Canyon, USF started out solidly, earning the doubles point. Mert Zincirli and Christian Brockstedt were reunited as a tandem for the first time since October, downing Adrian Legarreta and Philip Kuehnen, 6-1. Paul Giraud and Woravin Kumthonkittikul, who have played together just once in the spring, defeated Lorenzo Fucile and Valentin Lang 6-2 on court 3 to clinch the point for the Dons.

Grand Canyon rallied back to take the lead after earning points at Nos. 3, 4, and 6 before Kunthonkittikul notched a win at No. 5. Playing on his birthday, the senior from Bangkok, Thailand defeated Justin Cvitanovic, 7-6, 6-1, to register his second win against competition from the Lopes.

"Against Grand Canyon, we got off to a good start and got the doubles point with some new formations," said Pires de Almeida. "Everyone started well, but we were not able to hold and we fell short. Woravin was able to win his doubles and singles matches for us on his birthday which was solid. Now, we are looking forward to building some confidence this week heading into the Pacific Mountain Invitational."

Next up, the Dons play in the eight-team invitational co-hosted by Pacific and New Mexico on March 4-5.
 

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UC Santa Barbara 6, USF 1
Saturday, Feb. 25 | Pebble Beach, Calif.

Singles competition – Order of finish (3, 6, 4, 5, 2, 1)
1. Johan Joenhagen (USF) def. Morgan Mays (UCSB); 7-6 (10-3), 7-5
2. Nicolas Moreno de Alboran (UCSB) def. Mert Zincirli (USF); 6-4, 7-6 (10-3)
3. Simon Freund (UCSB) def. Ryan Marker (USF); 6-1, 6-2
4. Cody Rakela (UCSB) def. Oliver Poysti (USF); 6-3, 6-4
5. Anders Holm (UCSB) def. Woravin Kumthonkittikul (USF); 6-3, 7-5
6. Chase Masciorini (UCSB) def. Paul Giraud (USF); 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition – Order of finish (2, 3, 1)
1. #8 Mays/Freund (UCSB) def. Zincirli/Joenhagen (USF); 6-1
2. Moreno de Alboran/Holm (UCSB) def. Marker/Giraud (USF); 6-0
3. Christian Brockstedt/Poysti (USF) def. Rakela/ Teague Hamilton (UCSB); 6-3
 

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Grand Canyon 4, USF 2
Saturday, Feb. 25 | Pebble Beach, Calif.

Singles competition – Order of finish (4, 3, 6, 5, 2)
1. Johan Joenhagen (USF) vs. Francois Musitelli (GCU); 4-6, 6-4, 2-4, unfinished
2. Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) def. Mert Zincirli (USF); 7-6, 7-5
3. Adrian Legarreta (GCU) def. Ryan Marker (USF); 6-2, 6-2
4. Lorenzo Fucile (GCU) def. Oliver Poysti (USF); 6-3, 6-2
5. Woravin Kumthonkittikul (USF) def. Justin Cvitanovic (GCU); 7-6, 6-1
6. Valentin Lang (GCU) def. Lucas Marinelli (USF); 7-6 (10-3), 6-1

Doubles competition – Order of finish (1, 2, 3)
1. Zincirli/Christian Brockstedt (USF) def. Legarreta/Philip Kuehnen (GCU); 6-1
2. Rajaonah/Gregoire Balenci (GCU) def. Joenhagen/Poysti (USF); 6-0
3. Paul Giraud/Kumthonkittikul (USF) def. Fucile/Lang (GCU); 6-2