UCLA
USC (Semifinal)
Bruins Fall to Trojans, 4-1 in Pac-12 Semifinals
April 25, 2015 | Men's Tennis
Friday marked the third meeting between UCLA and USC this year, and the Trojans (21-4) were able to come out on top yet again. USC won the doubles point and then notched three singles wins in the bottom-half of the lineup to pick up its third win over UCLA this year.
UCLA dominated doubles play when the two teams met back on April 16 at the Los Angeles Tennis Center, however USC was able to turn the tables on Friday. Third-ranked Yannick Hanfmann and Roberto Quiroz set the tone for the Trojans at court No. 1, recording an 8-0 win over ninth-ranked Mackenzie McDonald and Martin Redlicki. The point was soon clinched next door at court No. 2, as Max de Vroome and Eric Johnson upset 84th-ranked Joseph Di Giulio and Karue Sell, 8-2.
Despite the setback in doubles, the Bruins came out strong in singles play, actually winning first sets at four of six courts. USC, however, would strike early and take a 2-0 lead when 67th-ranked Nick Crystal downed Di Giulio, 6-2, 6-1 at court No. 6.
When the two teams met less than two weeks ago, sophomore Mackenzie McDonald accounted for UCLA's only point in singles play. It was much of the same on Friday, as the third-ranked McDonald downed Hanfmann, the nation's 11th-ranked singles player, 6-3, 6-4 at court No. 1.
Following McDonald's win, USC was able to close out the match with two more victories. Jonny Wang downed Karue Sell, 6-4, 7-6 at court No. 4 and soon after de Vroome battled back from dropping the first set to UCLA freshman Austin Rapp to win 6-7, 6-1, 6-3.
The only two matches still on court when play was suspended were at court Nos. 2 and 3. At the No. 2 spot, Johnson was leading 36th-ranked Dennis Mkrtchian, 5-7, 6-3, 4-3. Quiroz and Redlicki were tied at 5-5 in the third set at court No. 3.
UCLA (15-9) now turns its attention to next month's NCAA Tournament and whether or not it will host first and second round action at the Los Angeles Tennis Center in early May. The NCAA bracket will be released to the nation on Tuesday.
Pac-12 Tournament (Semifinals)
#8 USC 4, #15 UCLA 1
Apr 24, 2015 at Ojai, CA - Libbey Park
| Doubles |
| 1. #3 Hanfmann/Quiroz (USC) def. #9 McDonald/Redlicki (UCLA) 8-0 |
| 2. de Vroome/Johnson (USC) def. #84 Di Giulio/Sell (UCLA) 8-2 |
| 3. Crystal/Wang (USC) vs. Mkrtchian/Rapp (UCLA) 4-4, unfinished |
USC Wins Doubles Point
| Singles |
| 1. #3 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. #11 Yannick Hanfmann (USC) 6-3, 6-4 |
| 2. #100 Eric Johnson (USC) vs. #36 Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) 5-7, 6-3, 4-3, unfinished |
| 3. #22 Roberto Quiroz (USC) vs. #107 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) 1-6, 6-3, 5-5, unfinished |
| 4. #38 Jonny Wang (USC) def. Karue Sell (UCLA) 6-4, 7-6 |
| 5. #86 Max de Vroome (USC) def. Austin Rapp (UCLA) 6-7, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 6. #67 Nick Crystal (USC) def. Joseph Di Giulio (UCLA) 6-2, 6-1 |
| Match Notes |
| UCLA 15-9; National ranking #15 |
| USC 21-4; National ranking #8 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (6,1,4,5) |
Players Mentioned
