BYU men's tennis team caps first day of tournament

PROVO, Utah - Players from the BYU men’s tennis team finished their first day of play at the Utah Fall Tennis Classic on Thursday as five singles players won their matches and advanced to the next round.

“I think it was a pretty good first day,” BYU coach Brad Pearce said. “I’m glad to see some Weber State and University of Utah players participate. It’s a good tournament, we see it as a pre-season game. It’s everything we want it to be so far.”

In singles play, BYU sophomore Keaton Cullimore dominated Steven Balls in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0. Senior Spencer Smith, who won the tournament last year, won in two quick sets also, beating Brandon Chambers from the University of Utah, 6-3, 6-1.

The Cougar’s Patrick Kawka, a junior from Las Vegas, didn’t lose a single game as he topped Ben Smith, 6-0, 6-0. Freshman John Pearce, one of last year’s doubles winners, defeated Caio Poitena from Weber State, 6-1, 6-2.

Sophomore Francis Sargeant also advanced past the first round, cruising past Idaho native Kevin Kennedy, 6-1, 6-0.

BYU junior Travis Fillmore kept his match close but eventually fell to Alejandro Medinilla, from the Univeristy of Utah, 6-3, 6-4. Scott Bohne, a new BYU freshman, was the only other Cougar to lose in the first round. In the longest match of the day, Bohne lost to Sanjay Goswami, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1.

The doubles matches started as soon as the singles play concluded. For BYU, Kawka and Cullimore began their doubles campaign in the quarterfinals, due to a bye in the first round. The doubles duo quickly put away their competition, Oliver Good and Poitena, 8-3.

Bohne and Fillmore advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Ben Rode and Dylan Hansel, 8-2. However, their luck didn’t continue through the next round. After thirteen hard fought games, they lost to Slim Hanza and Devin Lane, both Utah natives, 8-5.

Smith and Sargeant played doubles together and put up a fight in the longest doubles match of the tournament so far but were narrowly defeated, 9-8.

John and Matthew Pearce, both sons of head coach Brad Pearce, were defeated in the first round, 8-5. Their second match of the day came in the consolation bracket as they blew past their opponents, 8-1.

The tournament resumes tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. for singles and 3:00 p.m. for doubles at the BYU Outdoor Tennis Courts. Admission is free and open to the public.

The tournament can be followed here.