UC Davis
No. 65 Cal Poly Remains Perfect in Conference, Defeats UC Davis 4-3
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – In front of nearly 300 fans and behind the strength of four singles victories on Saturday afternoon, the 65th-ranked Cal Poly men's tennis team battled back to defeat 69th-ranked UC Davis, 4-3 at Mustang Courts. Cal Poly freshman Josh Ortlip (pictured) clinched the match with a three-set decision over UCD's Bryce McKelvie, 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4.
Cal Poly (13-8 overall, 4-0 Big West) remained unbeaten in conference action, while UC Davis fell to 15-6 overall and 2-2 in conference. The Mustangs have not lost since March 26 and remained perfect in the month of April (5-0). Cal Poly improved to 9-3 at home this season.
UC Davis grabbed the early momentum by taking the doubles point, but Cal Poly evened the match at one after junior Garrett Auproux defeated James Wade in the second position, 6-1 and 6-4. The Aggies recaptured the advantage after Everett Maltby downed Cal Poly's Axel Damiens from the fifth spot, 6-3 and 6-3.
Cal Poly junior Corey Pang – who hasn't been defeated in singles play since Feb. 21 – won his 12th consecutive matchup overall with a 7-6(1), 6-1 decision over UCD's Brett Bacharach at No. 3, knotting the match at two apiece. Pang is now 17-4 in dual match singles action this season from the third position.
Cal Poly junior Ben Donovan provided Cal Poly its first lead of the day after a three-set marathon win over UCD's Alec Adamson, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 from the first position. Donovan has won five straight singles matchups overall and is now 10-6 from No. 1 this season.
Ortlip sealed the win for Cal Poly after his three-set decision over McKelvie. The true freshman has now won 10 times from the fourth singles position during dual match play.
Cal Poly has perhaps its sternest test yet when hosting No. 50 UC Santa Barbara at 2 p.m. next Saturday, April 23 at Mustang Courts. Both the Mustangs and Gauchos are perfect in conference play heading into the matchup. Admission at Mustang Courts is free.
