SACRMENTO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco men's tennis team made its return to the court on Wednesday taking on Sacramento State at the Sacramento State Tennis Courts. The Dons lost the doubles point and lost the first set in four singles matches, but came away with the 6-1 win.
 
USF (1-0) opened the year playing the first of six road events before making its home debut in head coach JT Sundling's first year on the Hilltop.
 
"It felt great to be back on the court again," said Sundling. "It has almost been a year since our last college team match and our guys were fired up to have the opportunity to compete. We started off a little slow and were in a hole early in the match but everyone came together and we were able to turn it around. This is a great starting point for the season and we know what we need to work on to be better prepared for our next match."
 
The match began with Sacramento State's (0-1) Hermont Legaspi and Michael Vizcarra defeating Phuc Huynh and Mitch Johnson 6-4. Nitzan Ricklis and Paul Giraud evened up the doubles point with a 7-6 (7-2) win over Mark Keki and Liam Liles. But the point would go to the Hornets when the duo of Rudolfs Aksenoks and Jan Silva defeated David Woodland and Stevie Gould 7-5.
 
The singles side appeared to be going the way of the Hornets.  Sacramento State's won the first set in four singles matches.  Ultimately, the Dons battled back with Huynh defeating Aksenoks 6-2, 6-1.
 
Mitch Johnson won his match soundly 6-3, 6-3.  Stevie Gould came back to defeat Liam Liles winning 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Paul Giraud also came from behind in his match, defeating Mark Keki 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.
 
David woodland defeated Jan Silva 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 and Nitzan Ricklis defeated Hermont Legaspi 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.
 
Doubles competition
1. Nitzan Ricklis/Paul Giraud (USF) def. Keki, Mark/Liles, Liam (SAC) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Legaspi, Hermont/Vizcarra, Michael (SAC) def. Phuc Huynh/Mitch Johnson (USF) 6-4
3. Aksenoks, Rudolfs/Silva, Jan (SAC) def. David Woodland/Stevie Gould (USF) 7-5
 Order of Finish – 2, 1, *3
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles competition
1. Nitzan Ricklis (USF) def. Legaspi, Hermont (SAC) 3-6, 7-6, 7-5
2. Paul Giraud (USF) def. Keki, Mark (SAC) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
3. Stevie Gould (USF) def. Liles, Liam (SAC) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Phuc Huynh (USF) def. Aksenoks, Rudolfs (SAC) 6-2, 6-1
5. Mitch Johnson (USF) def. Vizcarra, Michael (SAC) 6-3, 6-3
6. David Woodland (USF) def. Silva, Jan (SAC) 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
Order of Finish – 4, 5, 3, ^2, 6, 1
^ Clinched the overall match

UP NEXT
The Dons will return to the court on Saturday, February 20 when they travel to Davis, Calif., to take on the Aggies. That match is slated for a 1:00 p.m. start.