April 18, 2008
DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis closed out its regular season Friday afternoon with a 4-3 victory over UC San Diego in a non-conference men's tennis match at the Marya Welch Tennis Center. All three of the Aggies' seniors had a hand in the scoring, including the clinching victory in singles. The win improves UC Davis to 10-12 while the Tritons dropped to 10-11.
The Aggies' 2008 senior class is comprised of Daniel Elefant, Justin Garcia and Henri Landes. Elefant had a dramatic conclusion to his home career as his victory at No. 4 broke a 3-3 tie and clinched the win for UC Davis. Garcia provided another win at No. 3 singles and teamed with Landes for an earlier victory at No. 2 doubles.
The match started off with UC Davis winning two out of three doubles for a1-0 lead. The first duo to finish was Garcia and Landes as they defeated Bijan Moallemi and Kazumi Negishi, 8-5. Alex Placek and Eric Rubens followed at No. 1 with an 8-6 victory over Elefant and Reiser. The Aggies clinched the match's first point when Nic Amaroli and Kevin Liang posted an 8-4 victory over Armaun Enami and Alex Whitmore at No. 3.
That set up the dramatic singles for the Aggies. UC San Diego wasted little time evening the match after Rubens defeated Reiser in straight sets at No. 2. The Tritons took a 2-1 lead when Moallemi posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Landes at No. 1. The lead increased to 3-1 when Vincent Nguyen defeated Tyler Lee at No. 6, 6-4, 6-2.
Needing to win the final three matches still in progress, the Aggies started the rally with Garcia's 7-6, 6-2 victory over Negishi to pull within 3-2. At the same time, Nick Lopez and Elefant where busy splitting their first two sets to set up decisive third sets. Lopez was down a set to Brandon Low at No. 5 before winning the second set. And the Aggie freshman trailed in the third set before pulling out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
The win by Lopez tied the overall score at 3-3 and came at the same time Elefant was leading 4-1 in the third set of his match with Placek. Minutes later, Elefant closed out the match with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory to give the Aggies the 4-3 victory.
UC Davis is next in action next week when it takes part in the Big West Championship in Indian Wells, Calif. Quarterfinal action begins Friday, April 25, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
UC Davis 4, UC San Diego 3
Singles
1. Bijan Moallemi (UCSD) d. Henri Landes (UCD), 6-4, 6-4.
2. Eric Rubens (UCSD) d. Michael Reiser (UCD), 6-0, 7-6.
3. Justin Garcia (UCD) d. Kazumi Negishi (UCSD), 7-6, 6-2.
4. Daniel Elefant (UCD) d. Alex Placek (UCSD), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
5. Nick Lopez (UCD) d. Brandon Low (UCSD), 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
6. Vincent Nguyen (UCSD) d. Tyler Lee (UCD), 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Placek/Rubens (UCSD) d. Elefant/Reiser (UCD), 8-6.
2. Garcia/Landes (UCD) d. Moallemi/Negishi (UCSD), 8-5.
3. Nic Amaroli / Kevin Liang (UCD) d. Armaun Enami / Alex Whitmore (UCSD), 8-4.
