Oct. 27, 2009
BERKELEY, Calif. - In its first test of the fall tournament season, the Santa Clara men's tennis team fell just short of preseason expectations at the NCAA Regional Tournament. Sophomore Kyle Dandan led SCU as the only Bronco to go on to the Round of 32. On the doubles side, partners Andrew Kells and Nicolas Vinel as well as Eugene Muchynski and Tom Pham both made it to the third consolation round of play.
The weekend in Berkeley started off well with singles victories in the Round of 128 from freshmen Tom Pham and Grant Fleming, sophomores Andrew Kells and Nicolas Vinel, and senior Jay Wong. In the next Round of 64, Kyle Dandan grabbed the only Bronco victory, but fell in the Round of 64 to University of Washington's Derek Drabble (6-3, 6-2).
"I am disappointed with our overall effort," said Bronco head coach Derek Mills. "We had high expectations going into this tournament. We are a well seasoned team, all of our guys have played in a lot of tournaments, and there is no excuse for how we played this weekend."
The doubles side of tournament play was more of the same story. Pairs of Muchynksi and Pham, and Vinel and Kells grabbed victories in all three consolation rounds. Vinel and Kells defeated Jeff Emerson and Nicholas Lautoa of Saint Mary's 9-7, while Pham and Muchynski beat Sacramento State's Nathan Wells and Nick Gwerder 8-3.
The Broncos travel to San Francisco this weekend to take on some of the best players from top Bay Area programs at the Battle of the Bay Classic. "All of our players realize we didn't play well and we are hoping to rebound and get back on track this weekend at the Battle of the Bay," said Mills.
Singles
Round of 128
SCU Tom Pham def. SM Nicholas Lautoa 6-2, 6-2
SCU Jay Wong def. POR Mike Pigou 7-5, 6-0
SCU Andrew Kells def. OR Mitch Somach 6-4, 6-2
SM Maxime Olivan def. SCU Eugene Muchynski 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
SCU Nicolas Vinel def. OR Duncan McDonald-Korth 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
POR Nick Wales def. SCU Mauricio Villa 6-4, 7-5
SCU Grant Fleming def. SM Jeff Emmerson 6-0, 6-0
Round of 64
CAL Chris Konigsfeldt def. SCU Tom Pham 7-6 (4), 6-4
ST Walker Kehrer def. SCU Jay Wong 6-4, 6-3
POR Filip Zivkovic def. SCU Andrew Kells 6-4, 6-3
CAL Zach Gilbert def. SCU Nicolas Vinel 6-2, 6-2
SCU Kyle Dandan def. POR Daniel Coehlo 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
ST Bradley Klahn def. SCU Grant Fleming 6-3, 6-2
Round of 32
UW Derek Drabble def. SCU Kyle Dandan 6-3, 6-2
Doubles
Consolation Round 1
SCU Muchynski/Pham def. USF Kotlyar/Steen 8-4
Consolation Round 2
SCU Kells/Vinel def. USF Hart/Bakke 8-5
Consolation Round 3
SCU Kells/Vinel def. SM Emmerson/Lautoa 9-7
SCU Muchynski/Pham def. SAC Wells/Gwerder 8-3
