SAN DIEGO — The University of California San Diego men's tennis team dropped a tough road match to Point Loma, 6-3, on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon at PLNU Tennis Courts.
UC San Diego (9-6) was looking to build off its momentum following a win over Concordia Irvine last week, but fell a little short on Tuesday.
Doubles play got off to a slow start, as the Tritons went 1-for-3 in the opening contests. The No. 2 team of seniors Eric Tseng and Justin Zhang dropped its match to Thomas Dafcik and Yuki Okamoto, 8-1, while UC San Diego's No. 3 unit of freshmen Neil Tengbumroong and Eskil Jarlskog lost a close, intense match to CJ Erion and Grant Alston, 8-7.
But the Tritons bounced back behind the No. 1 duo of sophomores Marc Isaia and Sreeganesh Manoharan earning a hard-fought victory over Brendon Millington and Jack Alston, 8-6.
Singles play began with UC San Diego junior Richard Han knocking off Tim Soderman in No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-2, to knot the dual-match 2-2, before Tengbumroong fell short in No. 5 singles against Alston, 6-2, 6-1.
Jarlskog dropped his No. 4 singles contest to EJ Erion, 6-3, 6-2, while an exciting, highly touted No. 1-singles match between 46th-ranked Tseng and 38th-ranked Dafcik went to the Sea Lions in Dafcik's three-set win, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0.
Zhang played a three-set thriller in No. 2 singles against Millington, but the final result also went to Point Loma, 6-3, 4-6, 10-5. However, Isaia closed the day with dramatic three-set win over Okamoto, 6-1, 6-7 (10), 10-8, ending the day on a positive note.
UC San Diego returns to action at home on Friday, April 13. Game time is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., but is subject to change.
Point Loma 6, UC San Diego 3
4/10/2018 at San Diego, Calif. (PLNU Tennis Courts)
Singles competition
1. #38 Thomas Dafcik (PLNU) def. #46 Eric Tseng (UCSD) 6-1, 4-6, 6-0
2. Brendon Millington (PLNU) def. Justin Zhang (UCSD) 6-3, 4-6, 10-5
3. Marc Isaia (UCSD) def. Yuki Okamoto (PLNU) 6-1, 6-7, 10-8
4. CJ Erion (PLNU) def. Eskil Jarlskog (UCSD) 6-3, 6-2
5. Jack Alston (PLNU) def. Neil Tengbumroong (UCSD) 6-2, 6-1
6. Richard Han (UCSD) def. Tim Soderman (PLNU) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Marc Isaia/Sreeganesh Manoharan (UCSD) def. Brendon Millington/Jack Alston (PLNU) 8-6
2. Thomas Dafcik/Yuki Okamoto (PLNU) def. Eric Tseng/Justin Zhang (UCSD) 8-1
3. CJ Erion/Grant Alston (PLNU) def. Neil Tengbumroong/Eskil Jarlskog (UCSD) 8-7
Match Notes
UC San Diego 9-6; Regional ranking #3
Point Loma 13-6; Regional ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,5,4,1,2,3)
T-3:19
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