Vilms and Lozano Defeat No. 8 Team in the Nation

PROVO -- The men's Cougar tennis team wrapped up a brutal road trip with a loss to No. 12 Pepperdine, 5-2, and No. 13 University of Southern California, 7-0, on Monday and Tuesday. The biggest surprise for the Cougars was a victory for doubles team Carlos Lozano and Gert Vilms over the No. 8 team in the nation.

BYU took on The Waves of Pepperdine on Monday. Cougar victories included Lozano defeating No. ranked Stefan Suter, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 and Anton Rudjuk surprising No. 77 ranked Chase Exon, 7-6, 7-6. Vilms lost to a tough No. 19 ranked Al Garland, 6-2, 6-4.

The doubles play, which has been a strong point early in the season, was overpowered by Pepperdine. Lozano and Vilms lost only their third match in 14, losing to Sebastien Graeff and Stefan Suter, 8-3. Cougars Michael Gysens and Eric Nyman defeated Steve Racioppi and Ryan Redondo, 8-6 for the only doubles victory.

On Tuesday, BYU traveled to Los Angeles to play USC. The Trojans handed BYU a 7-0 defeat behind storng play of three nationally ranked players, No. 18 AndrewPark, No. 56 Nick Rainey, and No. 96 Parker Collins.

Vilms and Lozano were the only bright spot for the Cougars, winning the first match of the day in doubles. They defeated Nick Rainey and Ryan Moore, 8-6.

The Cougars will come home for a short period before leaving again to the Rolex National Indoor Tournament in Dallas, Texas on February 1-4.

RESULTS: 
Pepperdine 5 BYU 2
Doubles
Sebastien Graeff/Stefan Suter def. Lozano/Vilms      8-3  (P)
Chase Exon/Al Garland def. Jeff Aren/ Rudjuk         8-1  (P)
Gysens/Nyman def. Steve Racioppi/Ryan Redondo 8-6  (BYU)
Singles
Garland def. Vilms           6-2, 6-4 (P)
Lozano def. Suter            7-6, 3-6, 6-4  (BYU)
Rudjuk def. Exon             7-6, 7-6  (BYU)
Wiring def. Gysens           2-6, 6-1, 6-2 (P)
Redondo def. Nyman           6-2, 6-2 (P)
Racioppi def. Stohl          2-6, 6-2, 6-2 (P)
USC 7  BYU 0
Doubles
Vilms/Lozano def. Moore/Rainey            8-6  (BYU)
Park/Spiezo def. Stohl/Harbach            8-1  (USC)
Collins/Torres def. Nyman/Gysens          8-5  (USC)
Singles
Park def. Lozano           8-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-4
Moore def. Vilms           7-6 (9-7), 6-4
Spiezo def. Rudjuk         6-0, 6-3
Rainey def. Harbach        6-2, 6-1
Torres def. Gysens         6-4, 6-0
Collins def. Stohl         6-3, 6-1