GCU Just Misses Upset of UCSD

Friday, April 22

Rohnert Park, CA

2:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

California at San Diego

Saleem won both of his matches tonight.

4/22/2011 10:04:42 PM | Men's Tennis

By: Mike McNally

The No. 23 Grand Canyon University men’s tennis team fell, 5-4, to No. 10 UC San Diego at the SSU Tennis Courts in Rohnert Park, Calif.

It was the second meeting of the season between the two schools, with UCSD winning 5-4 on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Ariz.

The loss drops the ‘Lopes to 10-7 overall. UCSD remains perfect at 19-0.

“It was a tough loss for the guys,” said head coach Greg Prudhomme. “Anytime you have chances to take out a top 10 team and let it slip away it's rough. These guys are No. 1 in the West and No. 10 in the nation and we were points from the win. We have enough 4-5 losses this year to last us for a few seasons, but our guys have bounced back and have continued to make improvements each time this has happened. We will take the experience we are gaining from these extremely close losses and turn them into victories in the future.”

GCU dropped two of the three doubles matches, with 25^th-ranked Frederic Schoelzel and Stephane Murray falling 9-8 to 23^rd-ranked Erik Elliott and Austin West.

The team of Ahmad Saleem and Kevin Anderson secured a victory at No.2 doubles, 8-4.

The two teams spilt the six singles matches, with each winning a three setter.

Schoelzel, ranked 17^th in D-II, defeated Erik Elliott, ranked 11^th in D-II, in straight set to improve to 15-1 this season.

“Frederic Schoelzel came up big today by beating Erik Elliot,” said Prudhomme. “This should bring his #17 ranking closer to the top 10.”

Patrice Giraldi won in straight sets at the No. 3 singles spot. Saleem dropped the opening set of his No. 4 singles match, but won the final two sets 6-4, 6-1.

“Ahmad Saleem was the only player that won his singles and doubles today,” added Prudhomme. “Which is not an easy task against UCSD."

Murray dropped a heartbreaker at No. 2 singles, winning the opening set at love, before losing the final two sets.

GCU will wrap up the 2011 season tomorrow with a match against Hawai’i Hilo at 8:30 a.m. at the SSU Tennis Courts in Rohnert Park.

Singles

1. Frederic Schoelzel (GCU) def. Erik Elliott (UCSD) 6-3, 7-5

2. Chapman Chan (UCSD) def. Stephane Murray (GCU) 0-6, 6-3, 6-4

3. Patrice Giraldi (GCU) def. Sam Ling (UCSD) 7-5, 6-3

4. Ahmad Saleem (GCU) def. Vincent Nguyen (UCSD) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1

5. Austin West (UCSD) def. Kevin Anderson (GCU) 6-4, 7-6

6. Max Jiganti (UCSD) def. Will Herbert (GCU) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles

1. Elliott/West (UCSD) def. Schoelzel/Murray (GCU) 9-8