Cougars Advance in Southern California Championships

LOS ANGELES – Winning all of its matches, the BYU men’s tennis team advanced in the Southern California Intercollegiate Championships Friday in Los Angeles.

No. 5 seed senior Georgy Batrkov defeated San Diego’s Andrew Raphaelson, 6-0, 3-3 Ret (inj), and UCLA’ Dennis Mkrtchian, 7-5, 6-2, to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the main singles draw.

Sophomore Patrick Kawka moved past Eric Johnson of USC, 7-6(3), 6-4, in the Round of 32 of the main draw. Kawka went on to defeat UCSB’s Benjamin Recknagel, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals.

Freshman Keaton Cullimore will compete in the quarterfinals after cruising past USC’s Johnny Wang, 6-4, 6-1, and Pepperdine’s David Sofaer, 6-4, Ret (inj).

Freshman Francis Sargeant topped UCSB’s Max Glenn, 6-4, 7-6, to advance to the quarterfinals of the singles qualifying consolation draw where he will face Azusa Pacific’s Whitman Hough.

In the doubles qualifying rounds, Cullimore and Sargeant recorded an 8-6 win over San Diego’s Andrew Carlisle and Garrett Taylor to advance to the quarterfinals.

Freshman David Doehring and sophomore Travis Fillmore will compete in the quarterfinals for BYU after San Diego’s Emilio Mora and Andrew Raphaelson withdrew.

The No. 4 seed of Batrakov and Kawka will begin doubles competition Friday in the main draw.

For more tournament information, click here.