With Fresno State ranked 53rd and UCSB ranked 56th, Friday’s match figured to be close and it was! The tennis was high quality and I really thought the UCSB men played well, fought hard and represented themselves well … only the result was disappointing.

Fresno State took the opening doubles point with wins at the Nos. 1 and 3 positions. It’s always difficult to win four of six singles matches against a quality team, but the Gauchos sure came close. Jack Hui was again the first off court, leveling the match for UCSB with a 6-0, 6-4 win — his eighth in nine matches — at the No. 3 slot. Alex Konigsfeldt then rallied from 1-4 down in the first set to put the Gauchos ahead 2-1 with a solid 7-5, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles. Unfortunately, Josh Finkelstein dropped a second-set tie-breaker and the match at No. 5 shortly thereafter to even things again at 2-2.

Max Taylor and Bijan Hejazi where both heading into third sets on their courts (Nos. 6 and 2, respectively) and Philip Therp looked headed to a third as well, serving at 5-3 in the second on court No. 1. Unfortunately, Therp couldn’t close out the set and ended up losing in a tie-breaker as well. Mirco Zapletal played an outstanding third set on court No. 2 to seal the win for the Bulldogs. Taylor won at No. 6 in an epic struggle of wills … 7-6 in the third, 10-8 in the breaker. Good stuff.

The Gauchos (9-6) will be right back on the court at 1 p.m. Saturday for a conference match with much improved UC Davis. Hope to see you there.

Go Gauchos!

Doubles
No. 1 — Rudy Siwy / Mirko Zapletal (Fresno State) defeated Philip Therp / Jack Hui (UCSB) 8-6
No. 2 — Alex Konigsfeldt / Josh Finkelstein (UCSB) defeated Danny Fafek / Taylor Leiby (Fresno State) 8-7
No. 3 — Flavio Mollinedo / Tejesvi Veerepalli (Fresno State) defeated Bijan Hejazi / Nigel Barton (UCSB) 8-4

Singles
No. 1 — Rudy Siwy (Fresno State) defeated Philip Therp (UCSB) 6-4, 7-6
No. 2 — Mirko Zapletal (Fresno State) defeated Bijan Hejazi (UCSB) 5-7, 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 — Jack Hui (UCSB) defeated Tejesvi Veerepalli (Fresno State) 6-0, 6-4
No. 4 — Alex Konigsfeldt (UCSB) defeated Denny Fafek (Fresno State) 7-5, 6-3
No. 5 — Martin Nilsson (Fresno State) defeated Josh Finkelstein (UCSB) 6-3, 7-6
No. 6 — Max Taylor (UCSB) defeated Sid Alapati (Fresno State) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6

Next Matches
UC Davis, 1 p.m. Saturday, Recreation Center Courts
Pacific, noon Sunday, Recreation Center Courts

Marty Davis coaches men’s tennis at UCSB.