April 6, 2007
DAVIS, Calif. - For the second consecutive match, UC Davis found itself embattled in a contest that would ultimately be decided by just a point. This time, however, the Aggies were outlasted 4-3 by visiting Cal Poly, Friday afternoon, at the Marya Welch Tennis Center. UC Davis won the doubles point and led 2-0 early in singles before the Mustangs won the next four matches to finish to clinch the victory. UC Davis falls to 5-11 on the year while Cal Poly improves to 8-12.
The Mustangs claimed the first doubles match with a win at No. 3 before the Aggies came back with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Michael Chin and Justin Garcia posted an 8-5 victory over Matt Baca and Kyle Roybal. Daniel Elefant and Jayce Fitch followed with an 8-6 win over Nick Berger and Fred Dewitte at No. 2 to give UC Davis a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
The Aggies would up their lead to 2-0 when Michael Reiser cruised past Roybal, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 2. The next match to finish was at No. 5 where Berger defeated Kevin Liang, 6-2, 7-5. Darryn Young overcame a loss in the first set of his match with Fitch at No. 3 to win the second and third sets and tie things at 2-2.
Dewitte followed with a three-set win at No. 6 against Elefant to give the Mustangs a 3-2 lead. At the same time, Chin and Garcia were embroiled in decisive third sets in matches at No. 1 and No. 4, respectively.
The clinching win for Cal Poly came at No. 1 when Baca defeated Chin, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Moments later, Garcia prevailed over Robert Foy, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
"Overall, our players did an excellent job of closing out their doubles matches," said UC Davis head coach Daryl Lee. "Unfortunately, Cal Poly's players were much more composed and consistent than our players in singles. I'm hoping our players can learn from this because it's been a problem for them in several matches this season. In a 4-3 match like today's, it should be a valuable lesson."
UC Davis is next in action Sunday when it takes to the road to face Nevada.
Cal Poly 4, UC Davis 3
Singles
1. Matt Baca (CP) d. Michael Chin (UCD), 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
2. Michael Reiser (UCD) d. Kyle Roybal (CP), 6-3, 6-4.
3. Darryn Young (CP) d. Jayce Fitch (UCD), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
4. Justin Garcia (UCD) d. Robert Foy (CP), 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
5. Nick Berger (CP) d. Kevin Liang (UCD), 6-2, 7-5.
6. Fred Dewitte (CP) d. Daniel Elefant (UCD), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Chin/Garcia (UCD) d. Baca/Roybal (CP), 8-5.
2. Elefant/Fitch (UCD) d. Berger/Dewitte (CP), 8-6.
3. Foy/Young (CP) d. Henri Landes / Casey McMakin (UCD), 8-2.
