April 6, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University senior Eric Kochanski netted a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles to clinch a 4-3 win for the Bronco men's tennis team over Pacific this evening at the Degheri Tennis Center. The Broncos are now 10-8 on the season and the Tigers fall to 8-9.
Pacific took the afternoon's first point with a sweep in doubles play and took a 2-0 match lead when senior Bronco Taylor Bedilion retired at No. 1 singles due to illness.
Santa Clara countered with two victories to even the match score. Sophomore Jan Macek bested Jorgen Vestli, a nationally-ranked player, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 singles and was followed by sophomore Bobby Rasmussen's victory in the fifth singles position.
Pacific took a 3-2 lead with a win on court four, and freshman A.J. Kerin tied the match once again, this time at 3-3, with his 7-6, 6-2 win over Alan Kelly, and placing all eyes on court three to determine the match's outcome.
"We came back from New Mexico last weekend and eight of our 11 players were sick," head coach George Husack said when considering the circumstances of today's win. "We didn't know who would be playing and went with the guys who said they were able to go today.
"Hats off to Eric for stepping up," Husack continued. "He was cramping in the third set and pulled it out; a gritty win. He was one of many today who dug down really deep to get this victory for our team."
Santa Clara will take the momentum from today's victory to San Luis Obispo, where it will play Cal Poly on Saturday, and then return home the following Saturday, April 16, for its final home matches of the regular season. The Broncos will host a doubleheader at Degheri, with a contest against UC San Diego at 10 a.m., followed by a match against Sacramento State at 2:30 p.m. The Broncos will honor its senior class of four on that day. Admission to home tennis matches is free.
Doubles
1. Sigurdsson/Zdravkovic (PAC) def. Kochanski/Rasmussen (SCU) 8-5
2. Otte/Vestli (PAC) def. Zepponi/ Blane Shields (SCU) 8-3
3. Kelly/Garrett Wyatt (PAC) def. Ben Hidalgo /Macek (SCU) 8-6
Singles
1. No. 84 Arnar Sigurdsson (PAC) def. Taylor Bedilion (SCU) 3-0, ret., illness
2. Jan Macek (SCU) def. No. 108 Jorgen Vestli (PAC) 6-2, 6-2
3. Eric Kochanski (SCU) def. Niclas Otte (PAC) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
4. Vladimir Zdravkovic (PAC) def. Francisco Zepponi (SCU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Bobby Rasmussen (SCU) def. Austin Kakar (PAC) 6-2, 6-3
6. A.J. Kerin (SCU) def. Alan Kelly (PAC) 7-6 (5), 6-2