UCLA
Texas (NCAA Semifinals)
No. 3 Bruins Drop Semifinal Showdown to Seventh-Seeded Texas, 4-2
May 19, 2008 | Men's Tennis
May 19, 2008
Tulsa, Okla. - The third-seeded UCLA men's tennis team saw its remarkable season come to an end on Monday, falling 4-2 to No. 7 Texas in a semifinal showdown at Tulsa's Michael D. Case Tennis Center. The Bruins end their season 25-2 overall, coming one win short of playing for their second national championship in four years. The Longhorns advance to Tuesday's title match and will face fourth-seeded Georgia. The Bulldogs upset top-ranked and undefeated Virginia in the other semifinal of the day.
"I can't say we played badly," said UCLA head coach Billy Martin after the match. "The guys fought really hard. I'm really proud of my team right now. I can't be unhappy, we had a great season. We lost to a good team. I certainly feel (Texas) is capable of maybe winning it tomorrow."
Texas jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the match, taking wins at court Nos. 2 and 3 to claim the doubles point. After posting an 8-5 win at court No. 3, the Longhorns clinched it when 53rd-ranked Luis Diaz Barriga and Miguel Reyes Varela downed Mathieu Dehaine and Holden Seguso, 8-6 at the No. 2 spot.
Although the Longhorns had the momentum heading into singles, it was UCLA that was able to get on the board with two quick wins to take a 2-1 lead. Dehaine struck first at court No. 3, quickly downing Ed Corrie, 6-4, 6-4. Fellow senior Jeremy Drean was next to finish, posting a 7-6(3), 6-2 win over Milan Mihailovic at court No. 5. Drean fought off two set points in the first set before eventually winning it in a tiebreaker.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, the momentum swung back in the Longhorns' favor not long after Drean's victory, as Texas was able to win the next two matches for a 3-2 lead. Diaz Barriga outlasted Michael Look, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 at court No. 4, while Reyes Varela was a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 winner over freshman Nick Meister at court No. 6.
UCLA needed to win both remaining matches to pull out the victory. Texas had a real chance to clinch the win at court No. 2, however Seguso was able to fight off multiple match points in his battle with Kellen Damico. Damico was up a set and leading 5-1 at one point before Seguso won the next six games to take the set 7-5. The other remaining singles match pitted senior Harel Srugo against Dimitar Kutrovsky at court No. 1. Kutrovsky was able to get an early break and never looked back, clinching the win for the Longhorns with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
In the battle of freshmen at court No. 2, Seguso and Damico were tied 2-2 in the second set when play was suspended.
Doubles
1. (52) Meister/Srugo (UCLA) vs. (9) Corrie/Damico (UT) 8-7 Susp.
2. (53) Diaz Barriga/Reyes Varela (UT) def. Dehaine/Seguso (UCLA) 8-6
3. Kutrovsky/Josh Zavala (UT) def. Drean/Look (UCLA) 8-5
Texas Wins Doubles Point -- Order of Finish: 3, 2
Singles
1. (10) Dimitar Kutrovsky (UT) def. (23) Harel Srugo (UCLA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3*
2. (61) Holden Seguso (UCLA) vs. (41) Kellen Damico (UT) 4-6, 7-5, 2-2 Susp.
3. (40) Mathieu Dehaine (UCLA) def. (47) Ed Corrie (UT) 6-4, 6-4
4. Luis Diaz Barriga (UT) def. Michael Look (UCLA) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
5. Jeremy Drean (UCLA) def. Milan Mihailovic (UT) 7-6(3), 6-2
6. Miguel Reyes Varela (UT) def. Nick Meister (UCLA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
* Denotes Clinching Match -- Order of Finish: 3, 5, 4, 6, 1
