BOX SCORE
UC Santa Barbara tied a conference record for consecutive titles with a 4-0 win over Cal Poly in the championship match of the Big West Men’s Tennis Tournament at Indian Wells Tennis Garden Sunday.
The Gauchos (18-6) won their fourth straight championship, matching the record the program initially set from 2006-09. UCSB has won nine of the last 13 tournament titles in Indian Wells. It was the 12th championship in school history.
UCSB won its 25th straight match over a Big West opponent - counting regular season and tournament contests. In going 7-0 this season, the Gauchos did not relinquish a point to any conference opponent, winning by a 43-0 margin.
The Gauchos earned the Big West’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by virtue of being conference tournament champion. UCSB will find out its first round opponent on Tuesday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. (PT) when the NCAA hosts its selection show on NCAA.com.
The Gauchos fought hard for the doubles point. The No. 3 team of Joseph Guillin and Victor Krustev defeated Cal Poly’s Roman Shenkiryk and Andrew Whitehouse, 6-3. Simon Freund and Joseph Rotheram followed with a 6-4 triumph over Karl Enander and Dominic Bechard at No. 2 to clinch the point. Cal Poly (18-7) led 5-4 at No. 1 doubles when the point was decided.
In singles, the Gauchos won their first two matches in quick fashion, but sweated it out in taking the clincher. Hironori Koyanagi defeated Alexander Stater (6-0, 6-2) at No. 5 and Nicolas Moreno de Alboran toppled Josh Ortlip (6-3, 6-1) at No. 4 for a 3-0 Gaucho advantage.
At No. 3 singles, Simon Freund notched a 6-4, 6-4 win against Antoine Noel to finish the match. The Mustangs were leading at No. 6 singles, and had taken matches at No. 2 and No. 4 singles to three sets when action concluded.
BIG WEST MEN’S TENNIS FINALS
INDIAN WELLS TENNIS GARDEN
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
(1) UC SANTA BARBARA 4, (2) CAL POLY 0
Doubles
1. Moreno de Alboran/Holm (UCSB) vs. Ortlip/Damiens (CP) - 4-5 (unfinished)
2. Freund/Joseph Rotheram (UCSB) def. Enander/Bechard (CP) - 6-4
3. Guillin/Krustev (UCSB) def. Roman Shenkiryk/Andrew Whitehouse (CP) - 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 2
Singles
1. Nicolas Moreno de Alboran (UCSB) def. Josh Ortlip (CP) - 6-3, 6-1
2. Joseph Guillin (UCSB) vs. Dominic Bechard (CP) - 6-2, 2-6, 3-1 (unfinished)
3. Simon Freund (UCSB) def. Antoine Noel (CP) - 6-4, 6-4
4. Anders Holm (UCSB) vs. Axel Damiens (CP) - 6-1, 4-6, 0-2 (unfinished)
5. Hironagi Koyanagi (UCSB) def. Alexander Stater (CP) - 6-0, 6-2
6. Victor Krustev (UCSB) vs. Karl Enander (CP) - 4-6, 4-5 (unfinished)
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3