SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- The University of San Francisco men's tennis team faced Cal Poly on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Mustang Tennis Complex. Coming down to third sets, the Dons fell 1-6 to the Mustangs.

"We were right there to win the match today," said head coach Pablo Pires de Almeida. "We got outworked. My guys need to trust themselves now in the right moments of their matches."

USF had a slow start to doubles when Ryan Marker and Paul Giraud fell 3-6. Mert Zincirli and Johan Joenhagen came back with a 6-2 win to tie up doubles. The Mustangs took the doubles point after Oliver Poysti and Luca Marinelli finished their match 4-6.

Joenhagen dropped his singles match 6-4, 6-0 as Marco Barretto brought his match into the tiebreaker round, but fell in his third set, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Marker (2-6, 6-4, 6-3) and Giraud (6-3, 1-6, 6-4) both followed with third sets in their singles as well, but neither could finish through.

Poysti was the only Don to get a point on the board with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win. Zincirli saw his match go into a third set, but ultimately fell 6-1, 4-6, 7-6.

"I'm looking forward to playing our first home match against Irvine," Almeida said.

Doubles

1. Zincirli and Joenhagen def. Andrew Whitehouse and Roman Shenkiryk; 6-2
2. Axel Damiens and Josh Ortlip def. Marker and Giraud; 6-3
3. Karl Enander and Dominic Bechard def. Poysti and Marinelli; 6-4

Singles

1. Ortlip def. Zincirli; 6-1, 4-6, 7-6
2. Bechard def. Joenhagen; 6-4, 6-0
3. Antoine Noel def. Marker; 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
4. Poysti def. Damiens; 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
5. Alexander Stater def. Giraud; 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
6. Whitehouse def. Barretto; 6-2, 1-6, 6-4

UP NEXT
The Dons are back on the court on Friday, Feb. 23 at the Cal Club for a match against UC Irvine. Match time is at 1 p.m.