UCLA
UNLV
No. 7 UCLA Tops UNLV, 5-2
February 10, 2018 | Men's Tennis
LOS ANGELES โ The No. 7 UCLA men's tennis team endured an early challenge against visiting UNLV Saturday, but pulled away in singles play to secure a 5-2 win. The match marked the Bruins' final home contest before they depart for the Pacific Northwest and the ITA Team Indoors Championships, as well as a match versus Seattle University.
The Rebels picked up the doubles point in Saturday's contest, but the Bruins turned it on with five straight singles winsโincluding the clincher by Evan Zhu on Court 3.
UCLA's top doubles pair of Martin Redlicki and Zhu dispatched Alexandr Cozbinov and Courtney Lock on Court 1, 6-3, to open play. The Rebel duo of Jordan Sauer and Ruben Alberts quickly answered, though, defeating Bryce Pereira and Maxime Cressy on Court 3, 6-4, to put the deciding match on Court 2. There, the teams would need a tiebreak to decide the match's opening point. Eric Samuelsson and Clayton Alenik of UNLV ultimately proved too much, narrowly edging Ben Goldberg and Austin Rapp, 7-6 (4).
The Bruins appeared determined to respond to their doubles loss, with Connor Hance first cracking the Rebels' armor in singles play. The freshman made quick work of Jordan Sauer on Court 6, 6-4, 6-0, to even the score. Two courts over, No. 58 Logan Staggs needed a second-set tiebreak, but overcame Samuelsson, 6-3, 7-6 (2), to give the Bruins their first lead of the day. Maxime Cressy continued the Bruins' run of success on the bottom courts, defeating Richard Solberg in straights, 7-5, 6-3, to bring UCLA within one win of clinching.
It would not take long for Zhu to do the honors, as the sophomore would not need a third set in topping Courtney Lock, 6-3, 6-4. No. 107 Keegan Smith dropped a second-set tiebreak against Alberts on Court 2, but rebounded for the three-set winner, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4. No. 1 Redlicki was unable to come all the way back after dropping his first set against Cozbinov, falling for the first time on the dual-match season, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Next up for the Bruins is a Valentine's Day road showdown with Seattle University. The teams will play a 6:30 p.m. match at the Mercer Island Country Club before UCLA heads to Seattle for ITA Indoors (Feb. 16-19).
Tennis Match Results
UNLV vs UCLA
Feb 10, 2018 at Los Angeles, CA
(Los Angeles Tennis Center)
#7 UCLA 5, UNLV 2
Singles competition
1. Alexandr Cozbinov (UNLV) def. #1 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
2. #107 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. Ruben Alberts (UNLV) 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4
3. Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. Courtney Lock (UNLV) 6-3, 6-4
4. #58 Logan Staggs (UCLA) def. Eric Samuelsson (UNLV) 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Maxime Cressy (UCLA) def. Richard Solberg (UNLV) 7-5, 6-3
6. Connor Hance (UCLA) def. Jordan Sauer (UNLV) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Martin Redlicki/Evan Zhu (UCLA) def. Alexandr Cozbinov/Courtney Lock (UNLV) 6-3
2. Eric Samuelsson/Clayton Alenik (UNLV) def. Ben Goldberg/Austin Rapp (UCLA) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Jordan Sauer/Ruben Alberts (UNLV) def. Bryce Pereira/Maxime Cressy (UCLA) 6-4
Match Notes:
UNLV 4-3
UCLA 7-1; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,4,5,3,2,1)
T-2:30
Players Mentioned
