MORAGA, Calif. -- The BYU men’s tennis team fell behind early against Saint Mary’s, dropping a 4-3 decision in West Coast Conference action, Saturday.

 

The Cougars (7-10, 1-1 WCC) ran into trouble early as they dropped the doubles decision to the Gaels (6-6, 1-1 WCC).

 

No. 2 doubles team of Sterling Galli and Francis Sargeant fell first, 8-3, against Nathan Lewis and Thomas Hunt. Doubles duo Robin Pfister and Andrey Goryachkov countered with an 8-6 victory over Joakim Norstrom and Tuomas Manner. 

 

Third doubles team Matthew Pearce and Jacob Sullivan attempted to clinch the point, but fell to their opponents, 8-6.

 

In singles action, captain Sargeant put BYU on the board first as he closed out Norstrom in extended straight sets, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2).

 

After the win at first singles the match score was at 3-1 in favor of the Gaels. Then Goryachkov fell at the second slot in two hard-fought sets, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.

 

The Cougars narrowed the margin at No. 5 and 6 singles. 

 

In the fifth slot, Matthew Pearce completed his second straight comeback win in singles. The freshman lost the first set 5-7 before swaying the momentum in tiebreakers in the second 7-6 (7-5). Pearce then claimed the victory in the shortened third set, 1-0 (10-4).

 

At sixth singles, Jacob Sullivan also won his second in a row with a three-set decision over Wil Martin, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (11-9).

 

BYU returns home for WCC matches against Loyola Marymount Friday at 1 p.m. MDT and No. 46 Pepperdine Saturday at 1 p.m. Live statistics will be available on the BYU athletics website.

 

 

 

Tennis Match Results

Brigham Young vs Saint Mary's College

Mar 22, 2014 at Moraga, Calif.

(Korth Tennis Complex)

 

Saint Mary's College 4, Brigham Young 3

 

 Singles competition

1. SARGEANT, Francis (BYU) def. Joakim Norstrom (SMC) 7-5, 7-6 (7-2)

2. Tuomas Manner (SMC) def. GORYACHKOV, Andrey (BYU) 7-6 (7-4), 7-5

3. Thomas Hunt (SMC) def. BOURGEOIS, Jeremy (BYU) 6-1, 6-4

4. Nathan Lewis (SMC) def. PFISTER, Robin (BYU) 6-3, 6-4

5. PEARCE, Matthew (BYU) def. Mathias Olsen (SMC) 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (10-4)

6. SULLIVAN, Jacob (BYU) def. Wil Martin (SMC) 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (11-9)

 

 Doubles competition

1. GORYACHKOV, Andrey/PFISTER, Robin (BYU) def. Joakim Norstrom/Tuomas Manner (SMC) 8-6

2. Nathan Lewis/Thomas Hunt (SMC) def. GALLI, Sterling/SARGEANT, Francis (BYU) 8-3

3. Wil Martin/James Markiewicz (SMC) def. PEARCE, Matthew/SULLIVAN, Jacob (BYU) 8-6

 

Match Notes:

Brigham Young 7-10, 1-1 WCC

Saint Mary's College 6-6, 1-1 WCC

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,3,1,2,5,6)

PROVO, Utah -- After almost two weeks without a match, BYU men’s tennis kicks off West Coast Conference play with matches on the road against Pacific and Saint Mary’s Friday at 2 p.m. PDT and Saturday at noon, respectively.

 

“We've been working on improving as individuals, and as a team,” BYU head coach Brad Pearce said. “We hope individual and collective improvement will translate into wins against very tough WCC competition on the road.”

 

The Cougars (6-9) will face the Tigers (7-7, 1-1 WCC) in the team’s first conference match of the season. Pacific has a win against San Francisco and a loss against San Diego in WCC play this season. BYU is 6-2 all-time against the Tigers. 

 

Against the Gaels (5-6, 0-1 WCC), the Cougars are 2-0 all-time. In its first conference match, Saint Mary’s fell to San Diego 7-0 at Moraga, Calif.

 

BYU returns home for WCC matches against Loyola Marymount March 28 and No. 46 Pepperdine March 29.