Cougar pair defeats duos from top-ranked teams

LOS -- BYU duo Patrick Kawka and Evan Urbina smashed through the first and second rounds of doubles play Friday, beating members of some of the nation's top-ranked teams in the Southern California Intercollegiate Championships.

The freshman-senior team Kawka and Urbina took on No. 4 seeded Peter Lucassen and Raymond Sarmiento of USC, a team that stole the title of NCAA champions in 2010 and 2009. The Cougars beat the Trojans 8-6 in the doubles quarterfinals.

“To beat USC shows a lot about our program,” said assistant coach Zack Warren, who traveled with the team to California. “The guys’ hard work is paying off. They came out ready to play. It was a good day—a very good day—for BYU. I’m really excited for their matches tomorrow.”

In the doubles Round of 16, Kawka and Urbina defeated UCLA’s Jeff Gast and Max TaBa Truong 8-4. UCLA made it to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships in 2010 and finished last season ranked No. 9 nationally.

Urbina also added a win in the first round of singles consolation to his victory tally, defeating Loyola Marymount’s Daniel Simko in straight sets (6-0, 6-2).

Saturday, Kawka and Urbina will take on No. 1 seed Hugh Clarke and Alex Llompart of Pepperdine in the semifinals at 10 a.m. and Urbina will face Ryan Mayer of UC Irvine in the singles consolation quarterfinals following the doubles match.

For more information on the tournament, click here.