SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's tennis began the 2017 dual match season with a convincing victory over Holy Names University. The Broncos won 7-0, sweeping the entire competition without dropping a set. Santa Clara returns to Degheri Tennis Center on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT against UC Santa Cruz and then faces Sonoma State at 2 p.m.
"It was a great success," head coach Niall Angus said. "First match is always a test and there's some nerves. The guys have been so eager to get going, last week the rain disrupted us so they've been a little on-edge waiting to get on the court. It was great to see the energy today, the excitement, the adrenaline and also translate that into our play."
Sophomore Andrew Gu and freshman Vasileios Iliopoulos began the day for the Broncos with a win on court two in doubles play 6-0. Sophomores Robert Seby and Connor Garnett took care of business on court one, winning 6-1 to clinch the doubles point. Freshman Jesus Tapiador Barajas and sophomore Kamran Khan then won 6-2, on court three.
"We got off to a fantastic start in doubles," Angus said. "Our energy was fantastic and we were feeding off each other. As soon as singles started we didn't let up and we stayed on them. It was a good first match."
Garnett led the way for SCU in singles play, jumping out to a quick 6-0, 6-3 victory on court three. Gu quickly followed up with a 6-3, 6-0 win on court two. Khan took care of business on court five, 6-1, 6-1. Junior Max Heerinckx replaced Tapiador Barajas in the singles line up and was up to the challenge, claiming a 6-1, 6-3 victory on court six. Iliopoulos then won 6-2, 6-2 on court four. Seby squared off against Matthew Halligan on court one. Halligan boasted a 6-1 record entering the match but Seby was not fazed and ended up winning 6-2, 6-2.
Head coach Niall Angus was very pleased with the performance from the squad today. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/F7aUCUFtxe
— SCU Men's Tennis (@SCUMTennis) January 28, 2017
"We've got two more matches on the weekend to try and loosen up a bit more," Angus said. "Then we have to get ready for our test against LSU and Tulane on the road so we're excited about the season and it was a good way to start."
SCU 7, Holy Names 0
Jan. 28, 2017 | Degheri Tennis Center (Santa Clara, Calif.)
DOUBLES
(1) Garnett/Seby (SCU) def. Halligan/Moraes (HNU) – 6-1
(2) Iliopoulos/Gu (SCU) def. Colpart/Parra (HNU) – 6-0
(3) Tapiador Barajas/Khan (SCU) def. Luque/Tahilan (HNU) – 6-2
SCU wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
SINGLES
(1) Robert Seby (SCU) def. Matthew Halligan (HNU) – 6-2, 6-2
(2) Andrew Gu (SCU) def. Bernardo Moraes (HNU) – 6-3, 6-0
(3) Connor Garnett (SCU) def. Hugo Colpart (HNU) – 6-0, 6-3
(4) Vasileios Iliopoulos (SCU) Javier Luque (HNU) – 6-2, 6-0
(5) Kamran Khan (SCU) def. Jonah Tahilan (HNU) – 6-1, 6-1
(6) Max Heerinckx (SCU) def. Ivan Parra (HNU) – 6-1, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 2, 5*, 6, 4, 1
* - clinched victory
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