SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Competing in their first conference road match of the season, the UC San Diego men's tennis team dropped a tough match to #47 UC Santa Barbara on Thursday afternoon at the Arnhold Tennis Center.         

INSIDE THE MATCH
Final Match 22: UC San Diego: 1, #47 UC Santa Barbara: 4
Records: UC San Diego: 8-14, 1-1; #47 UC Santa Barbara: 10-6, 2-0

HOW IT HAPPENED
Returning to action looking to keep the winning streak going, the Tritons received a strong doubles performance from the Daniel Traxler and Diogo Tinoco tandem. The duo built a 5-3 lead in their match before it was called after the Gauchos clinched the doubles point for the early lead.
 
Fighting back in the match, Traxler continued his strong performance as he was able to earn a two-set victory while competing at the five-spot in the UC San Diego lineup. The Gauchos would go on to win the remaining three finished matches to pick up the 4-1 victory on Thursday.

RESULTS
Doubles:
 

1. Pablo Masjuan/Kai Brady (UCSB) def. Pelayo Rodriguez/Zach Pellouchoud (UCSD), 6-3
2. Daniel Traxler/Diogo Tinoco (UCSD) vs. Lucca Liu/Gianluca Brunkow (UCSB), 5-3, uf
3. Luka Mrsic/Conrad Brown (UCSB) def. Jett Cole/Eric Silberman (UCSD), 6-1

 
Order of finish: 3, 1
 
Singles: 
 

1. Pablo Masjuan (UCSB) def. Phillip Lan (UCSD), 6-2, 6-2
2. Gianluca Brunkow (UCSB) def. Diogo Tinoco (UCSD), 6-2, 6-4
3. Luka Mrsic (UCSB) vs. Pelayo Rodriguez (UCSD), 6-3, 3-4, uf
4. Lucca Liu (UCSB) vs. Zach Pellouchoud (UCSD), 6-3, 5-2, uf
5. Daniel Traxler (UCSD) def. Kai Brady (UCSB), 6-3, 6-4
6. Conrad Brown (UCSB) def. Charles Qian (UCSD), 6-2, 6-0

 
Order of finish: 6, 1, 5, 2
 
QUOTABLE
 "UC Santa Barbara was able to hold on to the doubles point as we were threatening to get control of the match," head men's tennis coach Timmer Willing said. "Then they had a good start on singles and really played well with the lead, it was a tough match up for us with the power and aggressive style they play. I give a lot of credit to the players and their coaching staff."
 
TRITON TIDBIT

• Traxler continued his strong return in singles as he improved his record to 3-0 this season.

UP NEXT
The Tritons now look forward to their next match on the road against the Cal Poly Mustangs on Saturday, April 13 at noon from the Mustang Tennis Center.    
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.