The No. 11 Pomona-Pitzer men’s tennis team continued their impressive play this past weekend in their matches against Azusa Pacific University and Caltech. Despite the loss to Azusa Pacific, which ended their four-match winning streak, the team displayed top-notch form and looks to be in a good position as conference playoffs approach.
Azusa Pacific is a division two team, so the Sagehens did well to keep the score close in their 5-4 loss. Graham Maassen PZ ’17 and Quinn Hirsohn PZ ’20 aided the score with their 8-6 wins in the No. 2 doubles match. Avery Bicks PO ’20 dominated the No. 3 singles match, and Marko Mandic PO ’18 took the No.4 singles match. Josh Kim PO ’17 also performed well in his No. 2 singles match, getting the win for the Sagehens, but in the end it wasn’t enough to secure the team win.
Any doubts about their division three competence were put to rest when they dismantled Caltech 8-1 later in the day.
About three-quarters of the Sagehens saw playing time in their second match-up of the day, and almost everyone was on the winning side of at least one match. Sam Gearou PO ’19 contributed a win in the No. 6 singles match, and Mandic and Bicks both dominated their respective singles matches at the No.3 and No. 4 slots. Other highlight performances were senior Anthony Bello’s PO ’17 game-clinching win against Caltech in No. 2 singles and Maassen’s No. 1 slot straight-set win.
Hirsohn also got his own singles victory in three sets at No.5. Mandic and Bicks smashed their No. 2 doubles match, and Michael Poeschla PO ’18 and Parth Desai PZ ’19 won in No. 3 doubles. While they may not get the most playing time, Poeschla and Desai have yet to lose in the doubles matches they have played in this year. As a matter of fact, Desai has never lost in his entire NCAA career, making him the only unbeaten Sagehen.
Following the weekend, the Sagehens moved to 16-8 for the season and 4-1 in SCIAC. Their next match is today at Whittier before a big rivalry matchup versus Claremont-Mudd-Scripps next Wednesday.