SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Sporting a new look roster, the Santa Clara men's tennis team opens up its 2016 dual match season with a traditional home doubleheader this Saturday. The Broncos hit the courts at 10 a.m. to take on the UC Santa Cruz before finishing with the Seawolves from Sonoma State University at 2:30 p.m.
"The dual match season is here and the guys are excited to get to work and get off to a fast start," said Head Coach Derek Mills.
Santa Clara will look to repeat last year's performance when it swept both programs by a score of 4-0 on a first day doubleheader. Over the past 10 years, Santa Clara holds a perfect 10-0 record against the Banana Slugs and a nearly unblemished 7-1 mark against Sonoma State, having won the past seven contests against the Seawolves.
The Broncos
Santa Clara rings in the New Year with only two returning starters from last year's squad that posted a 9-13 mark in dual match play.
Ashot Khacharyan, the lone senior on the Santa Clara roster, comes into this weekend's matches with a 1-1 record on the season in singles play. Although the Sochi, Russia, native only played in two matches during fall play, he was able to pick up his 50th career singles victory. Last season, Khacharyan rolled past UC Santa Cruz's Max Littlejohn 6-0, 6-2 and followed suit with a 6-3, 6-1 rout of Sonoma State's Philip Holbrook.
"Ashot is our lone senior and we are looking for him to have a successful finish to his Santa Clara career," said Mills.
Santa Clara's only other returning player, sophomore Sebastien Mathieu, did not see action in the fall season but will be looking to settle in and improve upon his freshman performance. Competing against the Banana Slugs and Seawolves last season, Mathieu's singles matches went unfinished.
Behind the two returners, Santa Clara men's tennis begins a new era with its five-member freshmen class, a recruiting class that achieved a No. 12 ranking in the national polls last year and No. 1 mark for mid-major programs. Seeing action in the fall, all five newcomers picked up at least one victory in singles and doubles play.
Connor Garnett led the way with a 3-1 record during fall play while Andrew Gu followed close behind with a 2-1 record.
"These two matches will certainly give our younger guys valuable experience," said Mills. "They have been preparing well and they are itching to get out on the courts for some competitive action."
UC Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, competing at the Division III level, enters the 2016 dual match season looking to improve upon its 6-10 finish last year.
Similar to the Broncos, Santa Cruz carried a light load of matches during the fall season. Kicking off its campaign in early October, Santa Cruz captured the doubles point against UC Irvine but was swept in singles play, falling to 0-1 on the season.
In their next outing just two days later, Kyle Richter and Adrian Sirovica stole the show at the USTA/ITA Division III West Regional Championships. The Banana Slug duo stormed their way to the doubles championship where they finished off a 5-0 tournament run with a 6-4, 6-4 winner to claim the title. In singles play, three Banana Slugs reached the round of 16 in singles play.
Having been on a hiatus since early November, Sonoma State returns to the courts for the first time in 2016 when they visit Santa Clara this weekend.
During fall play, the Seawolves took part in three separate tournaments across the state of California. Opening up the season at the USTA/ITA West Regional Championships, Blaine Mengert led the way, reaching the round of 16 before being ousted. The sophomore also partnered with junior Logan Liddel in doubles and the Sonoma State tandem reached quarterfinal action.
In their next bit of action, the Seawolves were propelled by the doubles tandem of Sullivan Roche and Matt Weeber. The freshmen duo grabbed the doubles title at the Santa Rosa Junior College Fall Invitational. In singles play, Mengert and Liddel added two more wins to their resumes en route to appearances in the semifinals.
Sonoma State rounded out its fall season with a trip to Santa Clara's West Coast Conference foe, the University of the Pacific. Competing against Division I opponents, the Seawolves struggled to find rhythm, finishing a combined 2-13 in singles play and 1-7 in doubles action.
Admission & Parking: Admission is free to Degheri Tennis Center. Parking is available in either the Leavey Center lot or the main campus parking structure. Click here for a campus parking map.