March 13, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's tennis team scored a decisive 5-2 victory over 52nd-ranked Oregon this afternoon at the Degheri Tennis Center. The Broncos are now 6-7 on the season. The Ducks drop their second straight and fall to 7-8.
The Broncos won the coveted doubles point with wins on courts one and two. Bobby Rasmussen and Eric Kochanski paired together in the top doubles slot to best Manuel Kost and Arron Spencer by an 8-5 score, breaking Oregon's serve at 6-5 for the 7-5 lead that Kochanski served out for the victory.
"The doubles point was big for us," head coach George Husack said. "We've tried different combinations this year in an effort to get a quick start. Bobby and Eric stepped it up at the number one spot and Taylor and Francisco put in another solid effort. The momentum definitely carried into singles play."
In singles, Kochanski and A.J. Kerin notched straight-set victories for the Broncos on courts three and six to give the Broncos a 3-0 match lead. Oregon notched its first point with Thomas Bieri's court two victory. Taylor Bedilion clinched the team victory with his three-set victory at the top singles slot. Bedilion was up 6-3 in the second-set tiebreaker, but Kost pulled out the set win. Bedilion rebounded with a 6-2 third set victory to clinch the team win. Francisco Zepponi rounded out the Bronco scoring with come-from-behind victory on court four.
"We've tried hard to maintain a consistent level of energy this season," Husack continued. "Since our last match, we've picked up the pace in practice and worked hard in preparation for today. I'm proud of our team and our seniors for leading our team for victory. We're hungry for more action and we'll get it going again with our next match."
The Broncos remain at home and will host Eastern Washington at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Admission is free to the Degheri Tennis Center.
Doubles
1. Kochanski/Rasmussen (SCU) def. Kost/Spencer (ORE) 8-5
2. Bedilion/Zepponi (SCU) def. Bieri/Pino (ORE) 8-3
3. Sven Swinnen/Liao (ORE) def. Chris Iwamura / Blane Shields (SCU) 8-3
Singles
1. Taylor Bedilion (SCU) def. Manuel Kost (ORE) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
2. Thomas Bieri (ORE) def. Jan Macek (SCU) 7-6, 6-2
3. Eric Kochanski (SCU) def. Arron Spencer (ORE) 6-4, 6-2
4. Francisco Zepponi (SCU) def. Chad Wilson (ORE) 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
5. Vladimir Pino (ORE) def. Bobby Rasmussen (SCU) 6-3, 6-7, 7-5
6. A.J. Kerin (SCU) def. Chris Liao (ORE) 6-4, 6-2
