GCU falls to No. 23 UCLA

Tuesday, February 26

Los Angeles, Calif.

3 P.M.

Grand Canyon

UCLA

2/26/2019 10:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Lopes held early lead but Bruins finished strong

By: Jerob Moon

LOS ANGELES—The Grand Canyon men's tennis team battled hard against No. 23 UCLA on Tuesday, ultimately falling 4-2. The Lopes held an early 2-1 lead, but the Bruins closed out the match winning three singles matches in a row to clinch the team win.

"That was a close one, super proud of the guys they played well they fought hard playing on the road against a team who's top-25 in the country," head coach Greg Prudhomme said. "Of the four matches we lost, three of those were in three sets so they all came down to the wire. But it was great, the guys played excellent doubles, we've really improved our doubles this year."

The Lopes have shined in the doubles, taking the point in all but one match so far this season. Like the Lopes did earlier in the year against another Pac-12 school at Arizona, the team jumped out and took an early lead winning the point.

Valentin Lang and Jakub Novak won in dominant fashion 6-1 at No. 2 and Lorenzo Fucile and Mathieu Rajaonah won 6-4 at No. 1 extending their unbeaten streak to 7-0.

"Getting the doubles point against Arizona, now getting the doubles point against UCLA, it's great to be able to get the point against these Pac-12 schools, and we were nipping on their tails in singles," Prudhomme added.

All six singles matches were close at the start with each team winning three first sets. UCLA tied up the score with a three-set win at No. 1, but GCU answered back moments later with a 6-2, 7-5 win by Rajaonah at No. 2.

Three of the final four singles matches would go three sets. The Bruins flipped the score in their favor and led 3-2 with a three-set win at No. 6 over Jakub Novak, and a 7-6, 6-4 win over Freddie Grant at No. 5. The match was clinched at No. 4 with Lucas Grego losing his first dual-match of the season falling in three sets 7-6, 3-6, 6-4.

Lang's match was left unfinished at No. 3, and UCLA took the match 4-2.

"Too bad this one got away, but against these teams you've got to finish that last point, they are not going to lay down." Prudhomme said. "It was a great experience for our guys, I think they are going to be motivated by the loss, knowing what we are capable of doing."

The Lopes will enjoy the rest of the week off as they prepare to compete in the Golden State Invitational hosted by UC Davis and Sacramento State from March 8-10.