MORAGA, Calif. – The University of San Francisco's men's tennis team fell in a heartbreaker to West Coast Conference foe, Saint Mary's 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at the Korth Tennis Complex.
The Dons No. 2 pairing of
Ryan Marker and
Phuc Huynh tallied the first doubles point for the Dons 7-6(5).
Singles competition was a sea-saw of victories from both teams. Marker collected a quick win over Damon Kesaris, 6-0, retired. Moments later, Saint Mary's James Watt beat
Nitzan Ricklis in straight sets at No. 2, 6-1, 6-4. Huynh knotted up the match in the No. 4 spot after taking down Matis Bot in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5.
Saint Mary's went back on top at No. 5, when
Oz Daniel fell in a tough battle to David Abfalter, 6-3, 7-6(5). It didn't stop there for the Dons when junior
Paul Giraud tied up the match for the second time this afternoon after escaping with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory over Abhishek Bastola. Giraud tallied his fifth singles win of the season. The match was dependent on the battle of
David Woodland and Daniel Krutik at the No. 6 spot. Both competitors fought in a three-set battle with Krutik securing the first win, 6-1, Woodland owning the second-set, 6-1, but it was Krutik who sealed the victory, 6-2 in the third.
"We had tons of chances all over the place today to win doubles and singles matches but the Gaels hung tougher than us. It was unforced errors that hurt us in the end today," said head coach Pablo Pires Almeida.
San Francisco (3-7, 0-2 WCC) will head to Stockton on Sunday to take on Pacific. First serve is slated for 1 p.m.
RESULTS
Doubles play
Damon Kesaris/James Watt def.
Oz Daniel/
Paul Giraud - 7-5
Ryan Marker/
Phuc Huynh def. Abhishek Bastola/Matis Bot - 7-6(5)
Daniel Krutik/David Abfalter def.
Nitzan Ricklis/Romeo Jivraj - 7-6(5)
Singles play
Ryan Marker def. Damon Kesaris - 6-0, retired
James Watt def.
Nitzan Ricklis - 6-1, 6-4
Paul Giraud def. Abhishek Bastola - 6-3, 7-6(3)
Phuc Huynh def. Matis Bot - 6-3, 7-5
David Abfalter def.
Oz Daniel - 6-3, 7-6(5)
Daniel Krutik def.
David Woodland - 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
Match Information
San Francisco 3, Saint Mary's 4
Doubles: 1,2,3
Singles: 1,2,4,5,3,6
