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Apr 20 | 01:00 PM
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LMU Tennis Center
One LMU Drive Los Angeles CA 90045
AaronS
| Posted: 20 Apr 2013 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
LOS ANGELES – In the Cougars' last match of the regular season and with the score tied at three, senior Spencer Smith came out with a win to clinch the victory for the No. 39 BYU men’s tennis team over Loyola Marymount at the LMU Tennis Center.
“We knew it would be another tough physical match today,” BYU coach Brad Pearce said. “Spencer saved his best tennis of the season for this match today. He helped keep our hopes alive for postseason I’m just so proud of his performance today.”
The Cougars, (20-5, 7-1 West Coast Conference) who finished second in the conference, claimed the doubles point to score first. LMU (4-19, 2-6 WCC) struck back with a win at the No. 5 singles position before Francis Sargeant quickly topped Cristobal Rivera on court 3, 6-0, 6-3.
No. 38 Patrick Kawka gave BYU a 3-1 advantage by defeating Othar Kordsachia 6-4, 6-2. The Lions then evened the score as they came away with victories on courts 4 and 6.
On court 2, Smith claimed the first set but his opponent fought back to win the second set. The senior from Salt Lake City found himself down a break point and serving with the score tied at four in the third set. But he fought back and won the next two games to seal the win for BYU.
“Spencer was carrying a big burden today and he knew it,” Pearce said. “He came through like a champion. It was great leadership on his part and I’m just so happy for him.”
BYU next plays Friday for its first match in the conference tournament.
Doubles
1. #84 Kawka/Sargeant (BYU) def. Kordsachia/Van Kann (LMU) 8-5
2. Bjerke/Bustamante (LMU) def. Goryachkov/Smith (BYU) 8-3
3. Cullimore/Pearce (BYU) def. Zapala/Simko (LMU) 8-4
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
Singles
1. #38 Patrick Kawka (BYU) def. Othar Korsachia (LMU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Spencer Smith (BYU) def. Todd Volmari (LMU) 7-6, 3-6, 6-4
3. Francis Sargeant (BYU) def. Cristobal Rivera (LMU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Sebastian Bustamante (LMU) def. Keaton Cullimore (BYU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Felix Van Kann (LMU) def. Andrey Goryachkov (BYU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Daniel Simko (LMU) def. John Pearce (BYU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 3, 1, 4, 6, 2
AaronS
| Posted: 17 Apr 2013 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020
PROVO, Utah – With the WCC regular season title on the line, the No. 39 BYU men’s tennis team plays No. 8 Pepperdine on Friday and Loyola Marymount on Saturday on the road.
The Cougars face the Waves at 3 p.m. PDT on Friday in Malibu, Calif., and then play the Lions at noon PDT on Saturday in Los Angeles.
BYU (19-4, 6-0 West Coast Conference) and Pepperdine are both undefeated in conference play. If the Cougars win both matches this weekend, they would clinch the conference title. A win over Pepperdine and a loss to Loyola Marymount would give both BYU and Pepperdine a share of the title.
The Cougars enter this weekend on an eight-match win streak. Four of those wins have come against nationally ranked teams.
In singles play, No. 38 Patrick Kawka shares a team-high 18 wins with his doubles partner Francis Sargeant. Kawka has won four consecutive matches and eight of his last nine. Sargeant similarly has won seven of his last eight.
Another set of doubles partners, Keaton Cullimore and John Pearce, are also producing in singles play. Cullimore is currently riding an 11-match win streak and is the winner of 14 of his last 15 matches. Pearce has claimed six of his last seven matches, including his last three consecutive matchups.
The duo of Kawka and Sargeant are ranked No. 84 nationally and boast a 14-5 record on the season. At the No. 3 doubles position, Cullimore and Pearce have earned a 14-7 mark this year.
Pepperdine (21-5, 7-0 WCC) narrowly lost to No. 2 UCLA last week 4-3. The Waves feature four nationally ranked players, including No. 9 Sebastian Fanselow.
Loyola Marymount (4-17, 2-5 WCC) are 2-5 at home this year, including a 5-2 victory over Saint Mary’s on April 13.
Live stats for Friday’s match can be followed on Pepperdine’s website.
The WCC Tournament begins next week in San Diego.
