LOS ANGELES - The defending NCAA Champion USC men's tennis team kept its 2003 title hopes alive Saturday, blanking UC Santa Barbara, 4-0 in a first-round NCAA Regional match at UCLA's Los Angeles Tennis Center. With the victory, 21st-ranked USC (14-11) advances to tomorrow's regional final and will meet the winner of sixth-seeded UCLA and Wichita State. With the loss, UCSB ends its season 15-9 overall.

USC started the day by winning the doubles point with victories at court Nos. 2 and 3 to earn a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.

In singles action, the Trojans came out strong, winning the first set on all six courts. First to finish was court No. 2, where USC's Johan Berg lost just two games en route to a 6-2, 6-0 decision over Mirco Schwindt. Shortly thereafter, Trojan Parker Collins gave USC a 3-0 advantage following his 6-3, 6-1 victory over Michael Frick at No. 5 singles.

The dual-match was clinched at the No. 4 position, where USC's Ruben Torres posted a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Alex Anselme.

Tomorrow's regional final begins at 1:00 p.m. at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

Doubles
1. Palencia/Schwindt (UCSB) def. (48) Amritraj/Jeff Kazarian (USC)	8-5
2. (52) Collins/Langre (USC) def. Anselme/Placek (UCSB)	8-5
3. Berg/Torres (USC) def. Brotman/Frick (UCSB)	8-3
USC Wins Doubles Point

Singles
1. (43) Prakash Amritraj (USC) vs. (115) Carlos Palencia (UCSB)	Susp.
2. Johan Berg (USC) def. Mirco Schwindt (UCSB)	6-2, 6-0
3. Daniel Langre (USC) vs. Mike Placek (UCSB)	Susp.
4. Ruben Torres (USC) def. Alex Anselme (UCSB)	6-2, 6-1*
5. Parker Collins (USC) def. Michael Frick (UCSB)	6-3, 6-1
6. Scott Patterson (USC) vs. Nicholas Brotman (UCSB)	Susp.

* Denotes Clinching Match
Order of Finish (Singles): 2, 5, 4