Grand Canyon
No. 71 Cal Poly Beats Grand Canyon, Falls to New Mexico in Stockton
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
STOCKTON, Calif. – During the opening day of the Pacific Mountain Invitational, the 71st-ranked Cal Poly men's tennis team split two dual matches on Friday afternoon, dispatching Grand Canyon, 4-0 and losing to No. 45 New Mexico, 4-0 at Hal Nelson Courts.
"We played better doubles today," head coach Nick Carless said. "The confidence we gained from our doubles victory against Grand Canyon carried over into singles during our morning match."
Cal Poly sophomore Garrett Auproux and senior Devin Barber – paired together for the first time this season – beat the duo of Philip Kuehnen and Adrian Legarreta at No. 1 doubles, 6-0.
Sophomores Corey Pang and Ben Donovan ousted the tandem of Alexander Roggenkamp and Felix Schueller at No. 2 doubles, with a 6-2 decision to secure the initial point of the match for Cal Poly.
At No. 2 singles, Auproux ousted Roggenkamp, 6-2, 6-0 providing Cal Poly with a 2-0 advantage.
Senior Naveen Beasley – playing at No. 4 singles for the first time this season – won his third straight match, defeating Meidy Chazeau 6-2, 6-1. A victory by Donovan at No. 1 singles over Schueller, 6-1, 6-2 provided Cal Poly with the fourth and final point against the Antelopes.
"I was happy to see our team get off the court quickly because of the double-header this afternoon," Carless replied. "Against Grand Canyon, we played confident, aggressive tennis."
During the afternoon session, New Mexico – who Cal Poly beat on Feb. 13 – grabbed the early momentum by securing the doubles point. According to assistant coach Mike Marquez, gale-force wind conditions were something both teams had to battle against.
Pang and Donovan, however, won their fourth consecutive doubles match overall with a 6-3 triumph over James Hignett and Augustus Ge, knotting the doubles portion at one apiece. The tandem of Mitchell McDaniels and Jorge Escutia outlasted Lucas Lesoeur and Naveen Beasley, 6-2, to earn the Lobos the opening point of the match.
New Mexico would then use three successive singles victories to defeat the Mustangs. It was the first Cal Poly loss since Feb. 8 against Sacramento State. According to assistant coach Mike Marquez, New Mexico was looking to avenge the loss that Cal Poly dealt them a few weeks ago in San Luis Obispo.
"New Mexico played lights out against us today," Marquez said. "We played defensive tennis against the Lobos this afternoon and UNM played pro-active tennis."
Cal Poly (6-4) returns to action at either 9 a.m. or noon on Sunday, March 1 against an opponent to be determined in the final match of the Pacific Mountain Invitational.
