The UCR men’s tennis team was looking to extend its three-match winning streak when the team hosted UCSD at the SRC Tennis Courts last Thursday afternoon. UCSD came into the game looking for a fourth straight victory after defeating Sonoma State, while UCR’s last win came after defeating RCC.
UCR and UCSD opened the action on Thursday afternoon with doubles matches. The doubles matches had previously proved to be pivotal points for the Highlanders as two of their last three victories were decided by scoring the doubles point. The Tritons dominated the Highlanders in all three courts and claimed the doubles point. UCR’s Felix Macherez and Austin Andres were defeated by Devon Sousa and Austin West in a match that the Tritons dominated from end to end. The final result was 8-4. UCR’s Kevin Griffin and Jimmy Roberts lost their match at court No. 2 to UCSD’s Kona Luu and Jason Wall by 8-4, while at court No. 3 Highlanders Luis Gastao and Simon Peters were defeated by UCSD’s Sam Ling and Junya Yoshida by 8-6.
In singles action, UCR improved its performance, winning three of the six points in play. UCR’s captain Austin Andres dominated UCSD’s Austin West (6-2, 6-2) in a match that was controlled by the Highlander in all departments to win the first point. UCSD hit back when Max Jiganti defeated UCR’s Luis Gastao in a close-fought three-set match by 7-5, 3-6, 6-1. The Highlanders put the scoreboard on even terms when Felix Macherez claimed the second point for UCR after defeating UCSD’s Chapman Chan by 6-4, 6-1. UCR took the lead for the first time when Jimmy Roberts put on an impressive display to beat UCSD’s Junya Yoshida by 6-4, 6-2. Yet, UCR dropped the match when Simon Peters and Kevin Griffin lost their respective games against UCSD’s Sam Ling and Kona Luu by 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 and 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. UCSD defeated the Highlanders 4-3.
Next for the Highlanders is a visit to Loyola Marymount on Feb. 25 in Los Angeles, CA.
