LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Bronco men's tennis team faced a strong USC squad in its first match of the ITA Kick-Off weekend, falling by a 4-0 final to the No. 4 Trojans. After a 4-3 win over UC Davis in its season opener, Santa Clara's record now stands at 1-1.
The Broncos will face 64th-ranked Georgia State on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 10am in the consolation match. The Panthers were defeated 4-3 by No. 63 Wichita State in a tight match.
USC got on the board first by winning the doubles point. Max de Vroome and Eric Johnson topped Sam Bertram and Logan Chun at No. 3 doubles, 6-0. In the second doubles spot, Bronco freshman Mikheil Khmiadashvili and Jesse Ross fell to Connor Farren and Roberto Quiroz, 6-1. The Broncos recorded a solid doubles win in their NCAA debuts against UC Davis, but they were unable to overcome their USC opponents.
The Trojans carried their momentum from doubles into singles play. Johnson was first to finish, defeating Chun 6-1, 6-2 at No. 6. Chun was making his season debut after five appearances in 2013. Farren faced Khmiadashvili in the third position, winning 6-0, 6-2. USC wrapped up the match with de Vroome's 6-2, 6-1 win over Ross at No. 4.
The singles matches for John Lamble, Ilya Osintsev, and Bertram were suspended after the overall match was finalized.
No. 64 Georgia State, 2-1 on the season, won the doubles point against No. 63 Wichita State but went 2-4 in singles. The Panthers' fourth and sixth singles players picked up victories, but No. 1, No. 2, and No. 5 singles went to Wichita State in three sets.
Be sure to check back on SantaClaraBroncos.com for more on this weekend's matches as the Broncos face several top teams early in the 2014 campaign. Stay up to date with all Santa Clara men's tennis on Facebook and Twitter page @SCUmtennis. Go Broncos!
#4 USC 4, Santa Clara 0
DOUBLES
(1) Hanfmann/Sarmiento (USC) vs. Lamble/Osintsev (SCU) - 4-2 susp.
(2) Farren/Quiroz (USC) def. Khmiadashvili/Ross (SCU) - 6-1
(3) de Vroome/Johnson (USC) def. Bertram/Chun (SCU) - 6-0
USC wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 3, 2
SINGLES
(1) Yannick Hanfmann (USC) vs. John Lamble (SCU) - 6-2, 4-3 susp.
(2) Roberto Quiroz (USC) vs. Ilya Osintsev (SCU) - 6-3, 1-3 susp.
(3) Connor Farren (USC) def. Mikheil Khmiadashvili (SCU) - 6-0, 6-2
(4) Max de Vroome (USC) def. Jesse Ross (SCU) - 6-2, 6-1
(5) Jonny Wang (USC) vs. Sam Bertram (SCU) - 6-2, 2-3 susp.
(6) Eric Johnson (USC) def. Logan Chun (SCU) - 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 3, 4
