Key Three-Set Victories Carry GCU over UC Riverside

Saturday, March 7

Riverside, CA

2 p.m.

Grand Canyon

UC Riverside

Mathieu Ounanian

Photo by: Darryl Webb

3/7/2015 5:20:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Lopes will face UC Irvine tomorrow

The Grand Canyon University men's team (4-6) defeated UC Riverside (1-8) today in Riverside, Calif. They earned the win 5-1.

"The GCU men's tennis team played a great match today," said head coach Greg Prudhomme. "It was much like our win against Air Force where all six courts were fighting their best. The play can come and go—we had some gusts of wind and, of course, playing away—but the one thing that stayed consistent was that we fought hard for every match."

"We had to come from behind after being down a set on three courts and were able to push them to a third," Prudhomme continued. "We won two of those and those were crucial to getting the team victory, but it all started with a great doubles performance."

In doubles, Meidy Chazeau and Gregoire Balenci earned the first doubles point 6-2 while Adrian Legarreta and Philip Kuehnen came back to clench the doubles point for the Lopes.

Felix Schueller won his singles match in straight sets, defeating Julian Ruffian 6-1, 6-2.

Freshman Mathieu Ounanian also won his match in two sets to earn the win over 6-2, 7-6 over Calvin Ngo.

"Great job by Mathieu who stepped into the starting lineup for only the second time this year and now he's 2-0," said Prudhomme. "Mathieu stepped in and got a nice win, having to win a tiebreaker in the second set, so it's nice to be able to bring new guys into the lineup and know that they're going to bring that same fight."

The four remaining singles matches were all extended to three sets.

Legarreta faced Cooper Bridge in his three setter, while Chazeau competed against Sina Sharifi. Both teammates were able to come back after dropping the first sets to secure the win for the fourth and fifth points of the match. Legarreta won 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, while Chazeau finished 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Alexander Roggenkamp was also in his third set when the Lopes snagged the fourth and fifth point, leaving his match unfinished. The score was tied 4-4 in the third set when it was finished.

"We'll rest up as best as we can tonight and go in and face another team with a national ranking tomorrow," concluded Prudhomme.

The Lopes will face UC Irvine tomorrow in Irvine, Calif., at 11 a.m. A full recap of the match will be available at www.gculopes.com.

GCU 5, UCR 1