LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- UCI had a good showing in its opening dual match of the year despite the 7-0 loss at Los Angeles Tennis Center to No. 9 UCLA
The 'Eaters (0-1) battled with the Bruins (2-0) in doubles action. Ryan Cheung (Irvine / University HS) and Fabian Matthews (Newport Beach / Corona del Mar HS) hung with Nick Meister and Adrien Puget early on, but Meister/Puget pulled away for the 8-4 win.
The most interesting matchup was the freshmen, Jacob Jung (Upland / Options for Youth HS) and Shuhei Shibahara (Rancho Palos Verdes / Palos Verdes Peninsula HS), teamed up in the No. 2 slot for UCI, and held their own. The duo changed leads multiple times with Alex Brigham and Marcos Giron before the UCLA pair finally made some distance at the end, winning 8-5.
Sam Gould (Hamilton, New Zealand / St. Kentigren College Prep) and Jon Kazarian (Rancho Palos Verdes / Peninsula HS) were able to pull out the win over the No. 3 pair of Warren Hardie and Clay Thompson. Gould/Kazarian started off slow, but came from behind to score the final three points in an 8-6 win to detour the sweep.
Singles was part two of the battle. Kazarian was shut down by No. 94 Puget 6-1 in the first set. Jung and Shibahara couldn't keep up their doubles success each falling 6-1 in their first set to Tabatruong and Brigham, respectively. Cheung and Gould each hung around early. Cheung dropped his initial set, 6-2, to No. 86 Marcos Giron. Gould was outmatched by No. 72 Clay Thompson dropping his first set, 6-2. Matthews provided a bright spot in singles play coming from behind for a 6-3 win over Nick Meister in the No. 1 spot.
In the second set, Cheung and Jung came out firing with early 2-1 leads. Kazarian rebound nicely sticking with Puget throughout until eventually falling, 6-4. Gould and Shibahara each hung tough early in their second sets as well. Matthews struggled and was forced into a third set after a 6-2 loss. Cheung and Jung were unable to hold onto their leads as their days ended with 6-2 losses. Shibahara and Gould each slipped back for straight set losses at 6-2 and 6-4, respectively.
Matthews' third set went the distance before he was dispatched, 12-10.
UCI will continue its hectic week with its home opener on Thurs. Jan. 26th at 1:00 p.m. against No. 60 UNLV at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
#9 UCLA 7, #40 UC IRVINE 0
Jan. 24, 2012 – Los Angeles Tennis Center
DOUBLES
(1) Meister/Puget (UCLA) def. Cheung/Matthews (UCI) – 8-4
(2) Brigham/Giron (UCLA) def. Jung/Shibahara (UCI) – 8-5
(3) Gould/Kazarian (UCI) def. Hardie/Thompson (UCLA) – 8-6
UCLA wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
SINGLES
(1) Nick Meister (UCLA) def. Fabian Matthews (UCI) – 6-4, 3-6, (12-10)
(2) #72 Clay Thompson (UCLA) def. Sam Gould (UCI) – 6-2, 6-4
(3) #86 Marcos Giron (UCLA) def. Ryan Cheung (UCI) – 6-2, 6-2
(4) Maxime Tabatruong (UCLA) def. Jacob Jung (UCI) – 6-1, 6-2
(5) #94 Adrien Puget (UCLA) def. Jon Kazarian (UCI) -- 6-1, 6-4
(6) Alex Brigham (UCLA) def. Shuhei Shibahara (UCI) – 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 5, 3, 4, 6, 1, 2
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