UCLA
USC
No. 8 UCLA Defeats No. 19 USC, 5-2
February 18, 2000 | Men's Tennis
Postgame Audio
WESTWOOD, Calif. - In a heated and highly-competitive match, the No. 8 UCLA men's tennis team defeated crosstown foe No. 21 USC Friday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. With the win, UCLA improves to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the Pac-10, while USC drops to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in conference action.
The match came down to Courts No. 2 and 3. With the Bruins ahead 3-2, they needed only one win to clinch the match, however USC was not eager to give in.
On Court No. 3, UCLA freshman Jean-Julien Rojer dropped the first set 6-0 to USC's Nicholas Rainey, claimed the second 7-5, and then battled back from a 5-3 deficit to win the third set 7-5 and grab the win for the Bruins.
On Court No. 2, UCLA's Brandon Kramer, who is ranked No. 48 nationally, eventually prevailed 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 after a long and hard-fought battle against No. 69 Andrew Park.
Earlier in singles action, UCLA freshman Erfan Djahangiri earned the first singles win for UCLA when he cruised past USC's Scott Merryman 6-1, 6-2 on court No. 6.
Soon after, USC claimed its first point of the day when Daniel Langre defeated Lassi Ketola 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 4 position.
Next to finish was Court No. 1, where UCLA's No. 95 Jong-Min Lee upset No. 33 Patrick Gottesleben 6-3, 6-2 to bring the score to 3-1. The Trojans claimed their second and final point of the day when Parker Collins handed Chris Sands a 6-3, 6-1 loss.
UCLA started the day off on the right foot by claiming the doubles point. In the top position, UCLA's tandem of Lee and Kramer, ranked No. 39 in the nation, were headed towards an upset of the No. 4 doubles team in the nation, Rainey and Ryan Moore, before USC was forced to retire. The UCLA duo took a 4-0 lead before Moore suffered an injury to the ankle, forcing him to withdraw from competition. The Bruins clinched the doubles point when Sands and Rojer handed Park and Collins an 8-3 loss on court No. 3.
Last to finish was court No. 2, where the Bruin duo of Ketola and Travis Rettenmaier came from behind to tie the score at 6-6 before USC's Gottesleben and Langre claimed the win 8-6.
UCLA will head to Kentucky next week to compete in a dual match and participate in the National Indoor Championships. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, the Bruins meet the University of Kentucky for a 2 pm match and then from Feb. 24-27, they will be competing at the National Indoor Championships in Louisville.
Doubles (UCLA wins point)
No. 1 (39) Jong-Min Lee / Brandon Kramer (UCLA) def. (4) Ryan Moore / Nick Rainey (USC) Default
No. 2 Patrick Gottesleben / Daniel Langre (USC) def. Lassi Ketola / Travis Rettenmaier (UCLA) 8-6
No. 3 Chris Sands / Jean-Julien Rojer (UCLA) def. Parker Collins / Andrew Park (USC) 8-3
Singles
No. 1 (95) Jong-Min Lee (UCLA) def. (33) Patrick Gottesleben (USC) 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 (48) Brandon Kramer (UCLA) def. (t69) Andrew Park (USC) 7-6, 5-7, 6-4
No. 3 (t80) Jean-Julien Rojer (UCLA) def. Nicholas Rainey (USC) 0-6, 7-5, 7-5
No. 4 (52) Daniel Langre (USC) def. Lassi Ketola (UCLA)6-3, 6-3
No. 5 Parker Collins (USC) def. (t80) Chris Sands (UCLA)6-3, 6-1
No. 6 Erfan Djahangiri (UCLA) def. Scott Merryman (USC) 6-1, 6-2
Final Team Score: UCLA 5, USC 2
