SAN FRANCISCO – Despite a strong start on the afternoon, the San Francisco men's tennis team fell to No. 42 Cal Poly 4-1 on Saturday at the California Tennis Club.

USF picked up the doubles point for just the second time on the season to jump out to the early advantage. First, the tandem of Oliver Poysti and Paul Giraud down their opponents 6-3. Then, Cal Poly's top duo, 41st ranked Corey Pang and Ben Dononvan, knotted the score after taking their match, 6-3.

Coming down to the final doubles court, USF's Johan Joenhagen and Jerod Mah held serve down the stretch against Karl Enander and Tim Tan at No. 2 to secure the doubles point for the Dons.

"The Dons had a great start in taking the doubles point against a strong Cal Poly team," noted USF head coach Pablo Pires de Almeida. "Jerod Mah served it out and hit three volley winners to hold serve and clinch the point, and at No. 3, Oliver and Paul played very solid all the way around to win first."

After nabbing the first point on the day, the Dons were halted by the Mustangs in singles action, as Cal Poly raced to the next four points to secure the win. Cal Poly, ranked 42nd in the latest ITA Tennis polls, improves to 14-5 on the year, while USF now sits at 6-12 in dual match play.

"In singles we had good streaks but the Cal Poly team was fighting with a lot of poise and was able to take it to us," added Pires de Almeida. "Oliver was in a tough third set when Ryan lost to stop the match. Now we have to get ready for Sunday's match against the Gaels."

The Dons now head into the final month of the regular season, traveling to face off with Saint Mary's on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Moraga, Calif.
 

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#42 Cal Poly 4, USF 1
Saturday, March 31 | San Francisco (California Tennis Club)

Singles competition – Order of finish (6, 1, 5, 3)
1. #84 Ben Donovan (CP) def. Mert Zincirli (USF); 6-2, 6-1
2. Johan Joenhagen (USF) vs. #122 Corey Pang (CP); 4-6, 2-4, unfinished
3. Josh Ortlip (CP) def. Ryan Marker (USF); 6-2, 6-3
4. Oliver Poysti (USF) vs. Garrett Auproux (CP); 2-6, 6-1, 1-2, unfinished
5. Antoine Noel (CP) def. Paul Giraud (USF); 6-3, 6-4
6. Axel Damiens (CP) def. Christian Brockstedt (USF); 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition (3, 1, 2)
1. #41 Corey Pang/Ben Donovan (CP) def. Mert Zincirli/Christian Brockstedt (USF); 6-3
2. Johan Joenhagen/Jerod Mah (USF) def. Karl Enander/Tim Tan (CP); 6-4
3. Oliver Poysti/Paul Giraud (USF) def. Garrett Auproux/Josh Ortlip (CP); 6-3