Men's Tennis Downs Alabama, 4-0 in ITA Indoor Qualifying Ninth-ranked Bruins to face Fresno State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Dennis Mkrtchian

Dennis Mkrtchian

Jan. 28, 2012

LOS ANGELES - The ninth-ranked UCLA men's tennis team posted a shutout in its opening match of ITA Kick-Off Weekend on Saturday, downing Alabama, 4-0 at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. With the win, the Bruins (3-0) move on to face Fresno State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. The winner of that match earns a spot in next month's USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va.

After claiming the doubles point with wins at court Nos. 2 and 3, UCLA was led in singles play by sophomore Adrien Puget and freshman Dennis Mkrtchian. Puget, who is ranked No. 92 nationally, didn't lose a game against 122nd-ranked Michael Thompson at court No. 6, cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Mkrtchian was nearly as impressive at court No. 4, winning 6-1, 6-1 over 91st-ranked Daniil Proskura.

The four remaining matches were extremely close, as the Crimson Tide were actually up at set at court No. 3 and leading in third sets at court Nos. 3 and 5. Fortunately for the Bruins, however, senior Nick Meister clinched the win before it got too close, downing Jarryd Botha, 6-3, 6-4 at court No. 1 to give UCLA the 4-0 win.

Alabama will take on UC Irvine in a consolation match at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

#9 UCLA 4, #59 Alabama 0
Jan 28, 2012 at Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles Tennis Center)

Doubles
1. Meister/Puget (UCLA) vs. Doverspike/Thompson (ALA) 7-3, unfinished
2. Brigham/Giron (UCLA) def. Botha/David Vieyra (ALA) 8-5
3. Warren Hardie/Mkrtchian (UCLA) def. #21 Proskura/Taborga (ALA) 8-4
UCLA Wins Doubles Point

Singles
1. Nick Meister (UCLA) def. Jarryd Botha (ALA) 6-3, 6-4
2. #86 Marcos Giron (UCLA) vs. Ricky Doverspike (ALA) 6-1, 3-6, 2-4, unfinished
3. Maxime Tabatruong (UCLA) vs. #96 Vikram Reddy (ALA) 4-6, 4-2, unfinished
4. Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) def. #91 Daniil Proskura (ALA) 6-1, 6-1
5. Alex Brigham (UCLA) vs. Carlos Taborga (ALA) 6-2, 4-6, 0-3, unfinished
6. #94 Adrien Puget (UCLA) def. #122 Michael Thompson (ALA) 6-0, 6-0

Match Notes
Alabama 0-2; National ranking #59
UCLA 3-0; National ranking #9
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (6,4,1)
UCLA advances to face Fresno State on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Alabama will take on UC Irvine on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. (consolation)


Generated on 1/28/2012

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