PROVO, Utah – In the their last home match of the season, the No. 40 BYU men’s tennis team defeated Saint Mary’s 6-1 at the BYU Outdoor Tennis Courts on Saturday.

 

The win moved the Cougars (15-4, 4-0 West Coast Conference) past the Gaels (8-9, 3-1 WCC) for first place in league play.

 

BYU also finished with a perfect 11-0 record at home this season, with four of those wins coming over ranked teams. 

 

“It’s a great accomplishment to have the kind of competition we’ve had at our home this year,” BYU coach Brad Pearce said. “To finish 10-0 at home this year is a tribute to these guys. It shows not only the quality of their play but also their emotional and mental toughness.”

 

The Cougars swept the doubles matches starting with an 8-4 win on court 1 by Patrick Kawka and Francis Sargeant. 

 

Teammates Keaton Cullimore and John Pearce secured the doubles point with an 8-6 victory over Thomas Hunt and Seif El Sherbini. On court 3, Spencer Smith and Travis Fillmore edged Samuel Bloore and Tuomas Manner 8-7(4).

 

In singles play, John Pearce finished first with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 victory over Bloore. Cullimore claimed the third BYU point as he topped El Sherbini 6-3, 6-1.

 

Freshman Andrey Goryachkov finalized the Cougar victory with his own win at the No. 6 singles position against Thomas Hunt 6-0, 6-3.

 

Sargeant and Smith followed suit by defeating their opponents in straight sets.

 

“I was so happy for Spencer [Smith], as this was his last home match of his career,” coach Pearce said. “I was so happy to see him win doubles and singles and do it in a really positive and convincing way. He played really good tennis. Everybody should have that kind of performance for their last career match at home.”

 

BYU faces Boise State on the road next Saturday morning at 9:30 MDT. The match was recently selected as a USTA College Matchday.

 

 

Doubles

1. Kawka/Sargeant (BYU) def. Kiuru/Norstrom (SMC) 8-4

2. Fillmore/Smith (BYU) def. Bloore/Manner (SMC) 8-7(4)

3. Cullimore/Pearce (BYU) def. Hunt/El Sherbini (SMC) 8-6

Order of finish: 1, 3, 2

 

Singles

1. Jesse Kiuru (SMC) def. #37 Patrick Kawka (BYU) 7-6(4), 3-6, 1-0(9)

2. Spencer Smith (BYU) def. Joakim Norstrom (SMC) 6-3, 6-2

3. Francis Sargeant (BYU) def. Tuomas Manner (SMC) 6-1, 6-3

4. Keaton Cullimore (BYU) def. Seif El Sherbini (SMC) 6-3, 6-1

5. John Pearce (BYU) def. Samuel Bloore (SMC) 6-1, 6-1

6. Andrey Goryachkov (BYU) def. Thomas Hunt (SMC) 6-0, 6-3

Order of finish: 5, 4, 6, 2, 3, 1

PROVO, Utah – In its last home match of the season the No. 40 BYU men’s tennis team welcomes Saint Mary’s to the BYU Outdoor Tennis Courts on Saturday at noon MDT.

 

The Cougars (14-4, 3-0 West Coast Conference) have a perfect record at home and boast a 45-2 home record since the 2009 season.

 

With four-straight wins, No. 37 Patrick Kawka moved up five spots in the national ITA polls. Sophomore Keaton Cullimore is riding a six-match win streak at the No. 4 singles position.

 

The Gaels (8-8, 3-0 WCC) are currently tied with BYU for first place in the conference.  Saint Mary’s holds a 2-7 away record, including a recent loss to No. 49 Stanford.

 

BYU next hits the road to face Boise State on April 6 at 1 p.m. MDT.