Oct. 6, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The Santa Clara men's tennis team competed this past weekend in the Fresno State Bulldog Classic. Competing for the Broncos were senior Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong and junior Jay Wong.
"It was good for the guys to get out there and start competing," said head coach Derek Mills. "They each got wins and got a win as doubles partners, which is a great step in the right direction for us."
Hirakawa-Wong, who was in the B Draw at the Classic, defeated California's Evan Rose in three sets. He fell in the first set, 3-6 to the Golden Bear's sophomore, but came back fighting in the next two sets. In the second set he won 7-5, and in the final set he easily defeated Rose, 6-1.
In the Classic's A Draw, Wong took on UCSB's Taylor Chavez Goggin. Wong also fell in the first set, 6-7, but the 2008 All-WCC Second Team honoree came back and took the next two sets, 6-4 each.
Playing as doubles partners for the first time in the 2008-09 campaing, the senior-junior duo earned their first win in the Doubles A Draw round of 32. The Broncos fought hard against a strong USF pairing of Michael Carreno and Eliner Hart. Hirakawa-Wong and Wong were able to get the advantage over the Don's, winning 9-8(10-8).
In day two of play in the Rounds of 16, Hirakwa-Wong and Wong both fell to their opponents. Hirakawa-Wong fell to Cal Poly's Rob Foy in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Wong also concluded singles play in the Round of 16 A Draw. He took on the University of Washington's Derek Drabble and fell in straight sets. In the first set the San Jose, Calif. native fell, 6-3, and could not bounce back in the second set and fell, 6-2.
The Broncos concluded play in the doubles Round of 16. They took on USD's Nils Schive and Charl Wolmarans in their final doubles match of the weekend. They fell, 8-6, to the WCC conference opponent.
Santa Clara continues fall action on Friday, Oct. 17 when they travel to UC Berkeley to compete in the ITA Fall Regional Championships.
Bulldog Classic A Draw Round of 32
SCU Jay Wong d. UCSB Taylor Chavez Goggin 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
Bulldog Classic B Draw Round of 32
SCU Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong d. CAL Evan Rose 3-6,7-5, 6-1
Bulldog Classic A Draw Round of 16
UW Derek Drabble d. SCU Jay Wong 6-3, 6-2
Bulldog Classic B Draw Round of 16
CP Rob Foy d. SCU Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong 6-4, 6-4
Bulldog Classic Doubles A Draw Round of 32
SCU Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong/Jay Wong d. USF Michael Carreno/Eliner Hart 9-8(10-8)
Bulldog Classic Doubles A Draw Round of 16
USD Nils Schive/Charl Wolmarans d. SCU Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong/Jay Wong 8-6
