This match provided a benchmark for how far the PLNU men’s team has come this season, as the Point Loma men’s tennis team earned a gritty comeback win over No. 16 UC San Diego, 5-4, to revenge an early season loss on Friday, Apr. 10.
The Sea Lions finish the regular season at 11-9. The loss drops the Tritons to 12-9 on the season.
PLNU had lost to UC San Diego, 7-2, at home to start the season but today was a different story. PLNU, which was swept in doubles the first time, took two of the three matches to give the team early momentum. James Tenbroeckand Grant Alston put PLNU on the board first with an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles. The Sea Lions were then edged in a tiebreaker, 9-8, on court 2 but Andre Staab and Daniel Milliken made sure the Sea Lions would be heading into singles with the lead as they posted an 8-6 win at No. 1s.
Singles started with CJ Erion earning a straight set victory at No. 5s to put Point Loma up 3-1. UCSD then rallied to take the matches on courts 3, 4 and 6 to take their first lead at 4-3. All eyes turned to courts 1 and 2 where the Sea Lions needed to win both to pick up the upset over their crosstown rivals.
Martin Blaho got it done first with a 6-2, 3-6 and 6-4 win at No. 2s to tie the match at 4-4 and bring it all down to the No. 1s. For the second time this season the two top players for each team pushed themselves into a third and deciding set, and both times Staab prevailed, this time to give the Sea Lions the upset victory. Staab dropped the first set 2-6 before coming back to with 7-6 and 6-3 to send PLNU home with the win.
This match helps the Sea Lions momentum as they will start the PacWest Tennis Championships on April 16 in Surprise, Ariz. PLNU is the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 seeded Holy Names (6-10) in the first round. No. 40 Point Loma 5, No. UC San Diego 4
Singles competition
1. Staab, Andre (PLNU-MT) def. Axel Bouillin (UCSD) 2-6, 7-6, 6-3
2. Blaho, Martin (PLNU-MT) def. Eric Tseng (UCSD) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
3. Horea Porutiu (UCSD) def. Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) 6-0, 6-4
4. Justin Zhang (UCSD) def. Tenbroeck, James (PLNU-MT) 7-5, 6-2
5. Erion, CJ (PLNU-MT) def. Alexandre Miaule (UCSD) 6-3, 6-4
6. Andrew Malozsak (UCSD) def. Alston, Jack (PLNU-MT) 6-4, 6-2 Doubles competition
1. Staab, Andre/Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) def. Axel Bouillin/Kona Luu (UCSD) 8-6
2. Justin Zhang/Eric Tseng (UCSD) def. Blaho, Martin/Erion, CJ (PLNU-MT) 9-8
3. Tenbroeck, James/Alston, Grant (PLNU-MT) def. Horea Porutiu/Andrew Malozsak (UCSD) 8-4 Match notes
Point Loma 11-9; National ranking No. 40
UC San Diego 12-9; National ranking No. 16; Regional ranking No. 3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,3,4,2,1)