Fierce Battle Results in 4-1 Loss to No. 4 UCLA

Sunday, March 11

Seattle, WA

1:00 PM

University of Washington

UCLA

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

March 11, 2018 | Men's Tennis

SEATTLE – Washington men's tennis put up a fight against No. 4 UCLA in the 4-1 loss on Sunday, picking up the doubles point and battling to three third-set matches in singles in the first outdoor match of the year.

"I thought we were sharper without any lapses," Washington head coach Matt Anger said. "I thought we didn't play that many loose points, but then we slowed down at a certain point. We were able to sink our teeth into the match more than we have, especially against a top team. We competed well and I'm proud of the guys. I feel like we made progress, but obviously we still are not at the finish line."

The Huskies fall to 8-7 on the year, 0-2 in Pac-12 play, while UCLA improves to 15-2, 2-0 in the Pac-12. This was the second time this year that Washington won the doubles point against a ranked opponent. UW also won the point against No. 17 Michigan in the second match of the year.

The Dawgs came out fired up in doubles against the Bruins. All three sets were close from start to finish. At No. 1 doubles, Enzo Sommer and Kawika Lam got tricky to pick up a win. They held serve to get the first doubles win, 6-4. Jake Douglas and Jack Davis on court three had a similar set, keeping it close all throughout until they closed it out to win, 6-4, and to clinch the doubles point. Mitch Stewart and Piers Foley were tied 6-6 when the doubles point was clinched.

In singles, the Huskies did not let up. They won three first sets to keep it close throughout, but the Bruins controlled three of the courts and pulled it out on another to get the win. Three of the matches went to three sets with UCLA winning one, thus forcing the other two to end without a winner.

Sommer struggled on court three. He was swept in the first set and then dropped the second, 6-2, giving UCLA its first point. Alexis Alvarez fell in two sets as well, 6-2, 6-4. The freshman fought to keep in close in the second set, but Connor Hance pulled away.

Foley had a close opening set on court five. He fought from behind the entire set to force a tiebreaker. However, he lost 6-4 to drop the set. The momentum was on his opponent's side as he swept Foley 6-0 to take the match.

Amit Batta was in control from the start in set one, cruising to a 6-3 win. However, he lost 6-2 in the second set to move to a third. He played from behind for all of the third set but scraped back into it, forcing a tiebreaker. No. 62 Logan Staggs from UCLA came out on top in the tiebreaker, 7-5, clinching the match for his team.

Douglas at No. 1 singles came from behind to win the first set. He tied it up at 3-3 before No. 3 Martin Redlicki had a chance to win it at 5-4. Douglas tied it up and the two eventually went to a tiebreaker. Douglas won the tiebreaker 7-5 to take an intense first set. Redlicki came out firing on all cylinders in the second set, picking up a 6-2 win to go to a third set. Douglas had match point at 5-2, but Redlicki stormed back, winning three games in a row to tie it. Douglas was up 6-5 when the match was called.

At No. 2 singles, Stewart had an early lead, going up 4-1 and looking to be in complete control. His opponent No. 117 Evan Zhu came back, however, tying it at 5-5. Stewart battled back to win the set, 7-5. The second set was another close battle, this time with Zhu coming out on top, 6-4. Stewart was down 4-2 when UCLA clinched the match, stopping their match.

RESULTS
Washington – 1
#4 UCLA – 4

Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 3)
1) Lam/Sommer (UW) def. Redlicki/Zhu (UCLA) 6-4
2) Foley/Stewart (UW) vs. #24 Rapp/Smith (UCLA) 6-6 DNF
3) Davis/Douglas (UW) def. Cressy/Pereira (UCLA) 6-4

Singles (Order of finish: 3, 5, 6, 4)
1) #86 Jake Douglas (UW) vs. #3 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-5 DNF
2) #73 Mitch Stewart (UW) vs. #117 Evan Zhu (UCLA) 7-5, 4-6, 2-4 DNF
3) #58 Keegan Smith (UCLA) def. Enzo Sommer (UW) 6-0, 6-2
4) #62 Logan Staggs (UCLA) def. Amit Batta (UW) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(5)
5) Maxime Cressy (UCLA) def. Piers Foley (UW) 7-6(4), 6-0
6) Connor Hance (UCLA) def. Alexis Alvarez (UW) 6-2, 6-4