SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Competing against the top competitors in the Northwest Region over the weekend, Ashot Khacharyan and Robert Seby were unsuccessful in their attempts to advance deep into the singles and doubles field at the ITA Regional tournament.
Both Broncos were able to pick up one victory during the four-day event in Seattle, Wash., including a milestone win that gave Khacharyan his 50th career singles victory, but the early success was short-lived.
"We didn't achieve the results we were aiming for this weekend, but these guys gained valuable experience against quality opponents that will come to benefit us down the road," said Santa Clara Head Coach Derek Mills.
Attempting to win the singles title that he missed by one match last year, Khacharyan was unable to find that winning form that he road this time last season. After receiving a bye in the first round of singles action, Khacharyan found himself in a matchup with Adam Levie from the University of California, Davis in the Round of 64. The Santa Clara senior started his final campaign with a resounding result, sweeping Levie 6-3, 6-2 to pick up his 50th career singles victory wearing the red and white. However, Khacharyan's quest to return to the singles final was upended by Jayson Amos from the University of Oregon in the next round. Khacharyan was able to keep pace with the Ducks' junior, eventually losing 6-4, 6-2.
Khacharyan's freshman teammate was also unable to play his way into the later rounds of the tournament. Facing off against West Coast Conference rival Felix Fan from the University of Portland on Friday morning, Seby was unable to find his rhythm, falling 6-2, 6-1 to the Pilots' freshman. The following afternoon, Seby regrouped and returned to the win column while competing in the consolation bracket. The Oro Valley, Ariz. native rolled Carlos Donat from Portland by a score of 6-2 in the first set and clinched the victory in a tightly contested second set, 7-6(5).
Coming together in doubles, the freshman-senior tandem of Seby and Khacharyan picked up their first victory of the season after defeating Jerod Mah and Ryan Marker from the University of San Francisco by a score of 8-5. However, the Broncos were unable to advance past the Round of 32. Challenging the UC Davis Aggie pairing of Brett Bacharach and Levis, the Santa Clara pairing was doubled up, 8-4.
