Loyola Marymount
LMU Holds on to Edge No. 61 Cal Poly, 4-3
3/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The Loyola Marymount men's tennis team got out to an early 3-1 lead at Cal Poly on Friday before withstanding a comeback by the 61st-ranked Mustangs for a 4-3 non-conference road win. It was the first home loss (5-1) all spring for Cal Poly (now 8-5 overall).
"Our opportunities to pull out a victory definitely presented themselves throughout the match, and the bottom line is we just didn't capitalize," Mustang assistant coach Mike Marquez said. "We need to convert in big moments."
The Mustangs went ahead in doubles to start, as Ben Donovan and Corey Pang topped Adam Zaorski and Errol Smith 6-3. The sophomore duo is now 7-1 overall so far this season, having won all seven in ongoing, consecutive fashion, including a running 5-0 performance in dual settings.
But the Lions surged back to chalk up the point, sealed with a clinching tiebreaker on the No. 2 court, where Charles Boyce and Cristobal Rivera staved off set-point obstacles three times to barely prevail against senior Devin Barber and sophomore Garrett Auproux, 7-6 (5).
Donovan, the reigning Big West Conference Player of the Week, then evened the team score with a 6-3, 6-3 singles victory over Boyce at the top of the lineup.
LMU (4-6), however, quickly responded with wins at Nos. 5 and 6 to move to the brink of securing the overall margin.
Despite Auproux downing Smith in the ensuing battle at the No. 2 spot (7-6, 5-7, 6-3) and Pang adding a 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7) win at No. 3, the Lions wrapped up the outcome at No. 4, where Rivera came from behind facing senior Naveen Beasley, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
"The singles play from Donovan, Auproux and Pang was so fun to watch as a coach," Marquez added. "Our singles positions from 1 to 3 were playing great tennis all day long — some of the best I've seen all season."
Cal Poly will continue its four-match home stand by welcoming another ITA-ranked foe, No. 71 Utah State, at 11 a.m. Sunday.
