GCU drops NCAA tournament match at USC

Friday, May 7

Los Angeles, Calif.

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

USC

5/7/2021 5:07:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Lopes' season ends in Los Angeles to 12th-ranked Trojans

By: Jerob Moon

LOS ANGELES — The Grand Canyon men's tennis team lost 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament to No. 12 USC on Friday at the David X. Marks Tennis Stadium.

The Lopes' season came to an end, but the team has much to be proud of with the clinching of its second WAC regular-season and tournament titles in the last three seasons. Against the Trojans, GCU dropped the doubles point and three singles matches as USC advanced to the second round to face Pepperdine.

In doubles, the Lopes (8-13) dropped competitive matches at the top two courts. Sophomore Mariano Argote and senior Justin Cvitanovic lost 6-3 at Court 2 but battled back from a 5-1 deficit. Likewise, at No. 1, senior Valentin Lang and freshman Jiri Novak trailed 4-2 and cut the deficit to one game before losing 6-4 to the No. 10 doubles pair in the country, USC's Daniel Cukierman and Riley Smith. Loic Van Zeggelaar and Freddie Grant were down 5-4 when their match was abandoned at Court 3.

Leading 1-0, USC (21-6) pressed its advantage by taking three first sets in singles by 6-1 scorelines. Argote provided the highlight of the tournament for GCU, taking his first set against 52nd-ranked Smith at No. 2 in a tiebreaker 7-6 (7-2).

On the other courts, the Trojans took care of business, extending their lead with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Novak at No. 4. Lang, at No. 1, lost in straight sets and the win was clinched with a 6-3, 6-1 win by USC's Ryder Jackson over Van Zeggelaar at No. 6. Grant and Cvitanovic had their matches left unfinished in the second sets.

The Lopes will look forward to the fall season and the opportunity to defend their WAC regular-season and tournament titles with 10 players set to return from this year's squad.