DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis senior Alec Adamson out-lasted No. 84-ranked Ben Donovan in three sets on Sunday afternoon, helping the host Aggies upset No. 42 Cal Poly, 4-3, in the team's Big West Conference opener at the Marya Welch Tennis Center.

The Aggies improved to 10-6 overall and 1-0 in league play, defeating the Mustangs for only the second time in 17 meetings overall -- and the second time in the Division I Era -- dating back to the 1996-97 season. Cal Poly, which had won seven straight duals, fell to 13-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

It was UC Davis' first win over a nationally ranked opponent in three tries this season after the Aggies fell at No. 9 USC on Feb. 9 and No. 6 California on Feb. 26. The victory also snapped a six-match skid against ranked competition for UC Davis dating back to a, 6-1, win over No. 72 San Francisco on Feb. 6, 2016.

Sunday also marked the ninth time this season that the Aggies have had a dual finish with a 4-3 score, improving to 6-3 in those one-point contests.

In the last of four singles matches that were extended to three sets on the day, Adamson dropped the first set to the nationally ranked Donovan, 6-2, before bouncing back with identical 7-5 victories in each of the last two sets to nail down the victory, capping a run that saw UC Davis win four of the six singles contests after dropping the doubles point.

Following doubles play, senior Bryce McKelvie brought the Aggies level with a straight set victory over Josh Ortlip, 6-2, 7-5, while junior Everett Maltby gave his team its first lead of the day with a three-set, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, victory over Garrett Auproux at No. 4 to make it 2-1.

After the Mustangs evened the match once again with a win at No. 6, senior Eli Whittle put UC Davis back in front with a win at No. 5, rebounding from a first-set loss to post a, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3, victory over Antoine Noel.

With the teams now focused on the top two singles matches, Corey Pang -- ranked No. 122 in the nation -- posted a three-set win over James Wade, 7-6, 4-6, 6-1, to even the match at three-all and set the stage for Adamson's triumph to close out the day.

UC Davis has a quick turnaround for its next dual, returning to the Marya Welch Tennis Center to take on league rival Hawai'i on Monday afternoon (April 3) at Noon.

NCAA MEN'S TENNIS
#42 Cal Poly (13-6, 1-1) at UC Davis (10-6, 1-0)
April 2, 2017 at Davis, Calif. (Marya Welch Tennis Center)

UC Davis 4, #42 Cal Poly 3

DOUBLES
1. #44 Ben Donovan / Corey Pang (CP) def. Bryce McKelvie / James Wade (UCD), 6-2
2. David Goulak / Tommy Lam (UCD) vs. Karl Enander / Tim Tan (CP), unfinished
3. Garrett Auproux / Josh Ortlip (CP) def. Alec Adamson / Max Pham (UCD), 6-4

Order of Finish: 1, 3*

SINGLES
1. Alec Adamson (UCD) def. #84 Ben Donovan (CP), 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
2. #122 Corey Pang (CP) def. James Wade (UCD), 7-6, 4-6, 6-1
3. Bryce McKelvie (UCD) def. Josh Ortlip (CP), 6-2, 7-5
4. Everett Maltby (UCD) def. Garrett Auproux (CP), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
5. Eli Whittle (UCD) def. Antoine Noel (CP), 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
6. Axel Damiens (CP) def. David Goulak (UCD), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6

Order of Finish: 3, 4, 6, 5, 2, 1*