SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Suiting up an almost entirely freshmen-loaded lineup during the 2015-16 campaign, the Santa Clara men's tennis team found flashes of success and moments of promise leading to a 10-13 finish.
The season's highlights included a win against a ranked Fresno State University squad and two three-match winning streaks. The young Bronco squad also found bits of potential when challenging 11 ranked opponents this season.
"We definitely had our fair share of adversity and tough matches this season," said Head Coach Derek Mills. "Our youth certainly played a role at times but I am proud of the fight that these guys put forth this season. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come."
On the individual level, three Broncos were awarded with conference hardware. Seby took home the WCC Freshman of the Year award and was named to the singles honorable mention team. Khacharyan was named to the All-WCC Second Team Singles list. Seby and Garnett received an honorable mention nod in doubles.
"These guys are very deserving of their awards," said Mills. "They should be proud of their accomplishments."
After a light load in the fall tournament schedule, the Broncos burst out of the gates in the 2016 dual match season, winning their first two matches in the form of 7-0 sweeps and capping off the three-match winning streak with an upset victory over then No. 66 Fresno State.
February proved to provide some growing pains for the squad. The Broncos finished the month with a 2-4 record but all four defeats came at the hands of ranked opponents on the road. During those losses, Santa Clara had some of its singles matches in its favor against the Cardinal from Stanford University before the match was called and the Broncos also took then No. 56 Boise State University to an overall match deciding singles finish before a 4-3 heartbreaking blow.
"Those were a few tough matches to stomach," said Mills. "We put up a fight in every match however and the guys were never afraid to challenge those ranked opponents."
Transitioning to March, the Broncos hit a rough patch and struggled to find much rhythm. During that five match portion of the schedule, Santa Clara suffered two 4-3 losses at the Mountain Pacific Invitational and were swept at the hands of two more ranked foes.
Now at 6-8 on the season, the Broncos came roaring back with a three-match winning streak toward the end of March and into early April. Santa Clara defeated Saint Mary's College for its first conference win of the season, downed a gritty San Diego State University squad in comeback fashion and then controlled Gonzaga University on the road in Washington to get over the .500 mark.
"The guys showed some quality resilience during that time," said Mills. "They started to play with some intensity and really solidified a strong team dynamic in the process."
Unfortunately for the Broncos, that momentum would die out as another pair of ranked foes in the form of the University of Portland and Brigham Young University got the best of Santa Clara.
The Broncos would pick up a 4-3 road victory in San Francisco in the middle of April to give themselves a shot at the conference tournament with the final weekend of conference play yet to be played. With three matches in three days, all against ranked foes, good fortune would not benefit Santa Clara. The squad was unable to pull an upset in any of the matches and reach the conference tournament but it but was able to end its season on Senior Day honoring Ashot Khacharyan and his 61 career victories, a win total that etches Khacharyan in the No. 9 spot on Santa Clara's all-time singles wins list.
"Ashot was a tremendous competitor for us these past four years," said Mills. "He will be sorely missed."
The Broncos have two international recruits headed to the Mission Campus for the 2016-17 recruits and will look to build on the foundation that was set this season.
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