LOS ANGELES - Mann Shah was a match point down but rallied back with the 3-all match clincher to complete Santa Clara men's tennis 4-3 comeback win over LMU in the regular season finale on Sunday afternoon.
With the team score all knotted up at three points apiece, Shah dropped the first set 3-6 but took the second set tiebreaker 9-7 against John Otico to force a deciding third set. Shah closed it out with a 6-4 victory to secure the Broncos (10-11, 5-4 WCC) with a winning record in the conference. The Broncos will next play in the WCC Tournament starting on Thursday.
Santa Clara got off to a slow start against the Lions (7-16, 2-7 WCC) dropping the doubles point and the first two singles matches to fall behind 3-0.
But James Bell started the rally at No. 4 singles, taking down Manoel De Alencar in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to put the Broncos on the board.
Santiago Hinojosa followed with a 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) victory over Arthur Pantino at No. 5 to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Broncos evened things when Arthur Neuhaus outlasted Jose Dominiquez 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-2 at No. 2 to set the stage for Shah at No. 3.
NEXT UP
The Broncos play in the West Coast Conference Tournament starting on Thursday.
RESULTS
Santa Clara 4, LMU 3
Apr 24, 2022 at Los Angeles, Calif. (LMU Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Dane Esses (LMUM) def. Guillaume Dalmasso (SCUM) 6-4, 6-4
2. Arthur Neuhaus (SCUM) def. Jose Dominiquez (LMUM) 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-2
3. Mann Shah (SCUM) def. John Otico (LMUM) 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4
4. James Bell (SCUM) def. Manoel De Alencar (LMUM) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
5. Santiago Hinojosa (SCUM) def. Arthur Pantino (LMUM) 6-3, 7-6 (9-7)
6. Emin Torlic (LMUM) def. Ryan Ali (SCUM) 6-2, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Jose Dominiquez/Toky Ranaivo (LMUM) vs. Mann Shah/Arthur Neuhaus (SCUM) 3-3, unfinished
2. Thien Nguyen/Charles Roberts (LMUM) def. Guillaume Dalmasso/Matthew Rodriguez (SCUM) 6-0
3. Austin Di Giulio/Emin Torlic (LMUM) def. Nick Cmager/James Bell (SCUM) 6-1
Match Notes
Santa Clara 10-11, 5-4 WCC
LMU 7-16, 2-7 WCC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (6,1,4,5,2,3)
