*With rain in the forecast, updates will be posted regarding any postponements or cancellations.*
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Back above the .500 mark, the Santa Clara men's tennis team hosts Weber State University in a rematch of a contest last season that ended in a 4-2 Wildcat victory. The Broncos and Wildcats will take the courts at the Degheri Tennis Center at 3 p.m. on Monday.
During head coach Derek Mills' time at Santa Clara, the Broncos have split two matches against the Wildcats, a 6-1 road victory in 2013 and the 4-2 lost last year.
"Monday's match is important for our team to buildup some more rhythm and momentum," said Mills. "We have to jump out to an early lead and be sure to keep attacking with poise and urgency if we want to see a favorable result."
The Broncos
Santa Clara enters Monday's match with a 5-4 record on the year while holding a perfect 5-0 mark at home. During their last match, the Broncos overcame a pesky University of Missouri-Kansas City squad to capture a 4-3 victory.
Ashot Khacharyan continues to lead Santa Clara at the No. 1 singles position. Fresh off his 55th career victory as a Bronco, the senior will look to improve upon his 5-3 record while competing at the top singles spot. Last season, Khacharyan was bested 6-3, 6-1 by Weber State's Jakub Gewert. During his freshman came campaign however, Khacharyan got the best of his Wildcat opponent, rolling 6-0, 6-1.
For the first time all season, Santa Clara shifted around its remaining singles rotation ever so slightly against UMKC.
Taking over the No. 2 position, Andrew Gu rallied from a first set defeat to control sets two and three, winning 6-1, 6-4 to clinch Santa Clara's team victory. The freshman is tied with Connor Garnett for the most singles victories this season with eight.
Moving to the No. 3 spot, Robert Seby dropped his third consecutive match against UMKC. The Oro Valley, Ariz. native won four out of his first five contests but has been winless since the middle part of February.
In a similar fashion, Garnett has been tripped up as of late, falling in his last two matches. The freshman won five out of his first six dual matches but hasn't found the win column since the University of California, Santa Cruz match. Garnett is 8-4 this year and 5-3 while competing at the No. 4 spot.
Playing at the No. 5 spot, Kamran Khan increased his mark to 6-3 while competing at that position last weekend. Next door on Court 6, Sebastien Mathieu was defeated for the second match in a row, dropping his record to 3-4 on the season.
In doubles, the Broncos shifted their lineups for the third straight match. Now controlling the No. 1 spot, Gu and Seby are winless at 0-1. Playing No. 2, Khacharyan and Garnett are 1-0. Playing with consistency at the final doubles spot, Khan and Jeffery Liang lead all Santa Clara pairings with a 4-1 record on the season.
Weber State Wildcats
Weber State makes its fourth stop of its five match road swing when it visits the Mission Campus on Monday. Prior to playing against the Broncos, Weber State will play a back-to-back against Portland State University on Saturday and the University of Portland on Sunday.
As of last weekend's matches, Weber State is 3-4 on the season and 2-4 while challenging opponents on the road.
Controlling the No. 1 singles spot, Gewert is an even 3-3 on the season. The senior, a 2015 All-Big Sky Conference Second Team member, fell last weekend to his University of North Dakota opponent. Next door on Court 2, Todd Fought is 4-2 on the season, all four victories coming in the form of straight sets wins.
Playing No. 3 singles, Stefan Cooper is 3-1 since taking over at that position. The sophomore from England is riding a hot streak after downing his last three opponents in straight sets. Playing next door on Court 4, Hou-En Chen is also riding a winning streak after besting his last two opponents in three sets. The sophomore is 2-4 on the year but 2-1 since taking over at the fourth spot.
To date, three different Wildcat student-athletes have played at the No. 5 position, racking up a combined record of 4-2. Most recently, Landon Barlow has seized responsibility, winning two matches in a row. At the final singles position, Sanjay Goswami is an even 2-2 on the season.
Over in doubles, the No. 1 duo of Cooper and Goswami is 3-4 on the season, most recently having taken down North Dakota 7-5. At the No. 2 spot, Gewert and Fought hold a 3-3 mark on the season. Playing third, Barlow and Hou-En bring a three match winning streak to Santa Clara as of last weekend's action.
Parking & Admission: Admission is free to Degheri Tennis Center. Metered parking should be available in the Leavey Center lot, which is adjacent to the tennis center. Click here for campus visitor parking information or here to view a parking map.
