UCLA
USC
No. 5 Men's Tennis Suffers 4-2 Loss to No. 3 USC
April 19, 2014 | Men's Tennis
UCLA got off to a good start in the match, taking two of three doubles matches for a 1-0 lead. Friday marked the season debut for senior Adrien Puget, who has been sidelined since last year after having knee surgery in the summer. It was a successful return, as he and partner Mackenzie McDonald clinched the point for the Bruins at court No. 3, where they downed Max De Vroome and Eric Johnson, 8-4. UCLA's other doubles win came at court No. 2, as Joseph Di Giulio and Clay Thompson edged Nick Crystal and Roberto Quiroz, 8-7(3).
The Trojans, however, struck first in singles, taking a pair of straight-set victories. Wins by Johnson (court No. 5) and Yannick Hanfmann (court No. 1) quickly gave USC a 2-1 advantage.
UCLA junior Marcos Giron would get the Bruins on the board in singles, as his 7-6, 6-3 victory over Ray Sarmiento evened the match at 2-2.
Unfortunately, Giron's win would mark the only singles victory for UCLA on the afternoon. After De Vroome downed Bruin freshman Gage Brymer, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at court No. 4, Quiroz notched the clinching win for the Trojans next door at court No. 3, as his 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 victory over McDonald gave USC an insurmountable 4-2 lead.
Di Giulio and USC's Michael Grant were knotted at 4-4 in the third set when play was suspended.
Friday's loss snaps a nine-match winning streak for the Bruins, whose previous loss was a 4-2 setback against No. 12 Baylor on March 12.
UCLA now looks to regroup for next week's Pac-12 Championships in Ojai, Calif. The Bruins are the defending champions at the event. UCLA and USC could very well meet in next Saturday's final in Ojai, marking the fourth meeting between the two teams this season.
#3 USC 4, #5 UCLA 2
Apr 18, 2014 at Los Angeles, CA (Marks Tennis Stadium)
| Doubles |
| 1. #2 Hanfmann/Sarmiento (USC) def. #58 Giron/Sell (UCLA) 8-4 |
| 2. Di Giulio/Thompson (UCLA) def. Nick Crystal/Quiroz (USC) 8-7(3) |
| 3. McDonald/Adrien Puget (UCLA) def. De Vroome/Johnson (USC) 8-4 |
| Singles |
| 1. #16 Yannick Hanfmann (USC) def. #1 Clay Thompson (UCLA) 6-4, 7-5 |
| 2. #5 Marcos Giron (UCLA) def. #9 Ray Sarmiento (USC) 7-6, 6-3 |
| 3. #53 Roberto Quiroz (USC) def. #32 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 4. #95 Max De Vroome (USC) def. #74 Gage Brymer (UCLA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 |
| 5. Eric Johnson (USC) def. #94 Karue Sell (UCLA) 6-1, 7-5 |
| 6. #120 Michael Grant (USC) vs. Joseph Di Giulio (UCLA) 1-6, 6-3, 4-4, unfinished |
| Match Notes |
| UCLA 20-3; 6-1 Pac-12; National ranking #5 |
| USC 25-2; 7-0 Pac-12; National ranking #3 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (5,1,2,4,3) |
