INDIAN WELLS, Calif. --- The Anteaters came roaring back from down 3-0 to tie the match Sunday morning at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, but could not collect the clinching point relinquishing the Big West title to UC Santa Barbara, 4-3.
After splitting the first two doubles sets, the point fell to No. 2 doubles where Tobias Galskov and Ziad Sultan of UCSB (15-9, 3-2) just snuck away from Jonathan Hammel and Tyler Pham for the 6-4 set win and 1-0 lead in the match.
UC Irvine (20-13, 4-1) flipping the script in singles by winning five opening sets, however, it was unable to secure the first point. In fact, the Gauchos scored its second point in three sets at No. 5 singles to open up the scoring.
The teams traded straight-set victories first at No. 1 singles from Sebastian Heim and countered by Cody Rakela at No. 4 singles dispatching of Shuhei Shibahara.
UCSB gathered and won the second set in the three remaining matches forcing a third set for each of the final three points.
The 'Eaters continued its climb back into the match as Nico Mertens claimed a point at No. 3 singles and No. 6 Rafael Davidian did the same in a third-set tiebreak to tie the match at 3-3.
The deciding point came down to No. 2 singles Tyler Pham, but he was unable to hold onto his opening-set advantage falling, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 for a title win for the Gauchos.
The 'Eaters finish 2015 with a 20-13 record, its most wins under Coach Kronemann, while also playing in the most matches in program history.
(3) UC SANTA BARBARA 4, (1) UC IRVINE 3
UCI (20-13, 4-1) | UCSB (15-9, 3-2)
April 26, 2015
Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Doubles
1 Eshmade/Johnsson (UCSB) def. Agbayani/Poon (UCI) – 6-2
2 Galskov/Sultan (UCSB) def. Hammel/Pham (UCI) – 6-4
3 Heim/Hernandez (UCI) def. Mays/Riminton (UCSB) – 6-4
UC Santa Barbara wins the doubles point
Singles
1 Sebastian Heim (UCI) def. Tobais Galskov (UCSB) – 6-4, 6-2
2 Nathan Eshmade (UCSB) def. Tyler Pham (UCI) – 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3
3 Nico Mertens (UCI) def. Morgan Mays (UCSB) – 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
4 Cody Rakela (UCSB) def. Shuhei Shibahara (UCI) – 7-6 (4), 6-4
5 Erik Johnsson (UCSB) def. Jonathan Hammel (UCI) – 0-6, 6-2, 6-3
6 Rafael Davidian (UCI) def. Teague Hamilton (UCSB) – 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3)
Order of finish: Doubles – 1, 3, 2 | Singles – 5, 4, 1, 3, 6, 2
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