RIVERSIDE, Calif. – After another conference win, the UC Santa Barbara Men’s Tennis team is just one win away from claiming the No. 1 seed and The Big West Regular Season Title. The Gauchos blanked UC Riverside to move to 5-0 in conference play.
THE MATCH
Final: No. 49 UC Santa Barbara, UC Riverside 0
Records: No. 49 UC Santa Barbara 13-6 (5-0 Big West), UC Riverside 4-17 (0-5 Big West)
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Santa Barbara got out to a swift advantage as Pablo Masjuan and Kai Brady dominated their opponent on court one winning 6-1. Conrad Brown and Luka Mrsic then clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win in the No. 3 position. Gianluca Brunkow and Lucca Liu they were up 5-4 on court two before the match was abandoned.
In singles play Lucca Liu extended the Gaucho lead 2-0 after a straight-set victory in the No. 4 position. The 65th-ranked Pablo Masjuan then put UC Santa Barbara up three with a 6-2, 6-2 victory on court one. Gianluca Brunkow clinched the match on court two with a 6-1, 6-3 win.
POSTSEASON IMPLICATIONS
With the win this morning in Riverside, the Gauchos remain perfect in Big West play and atop The Big West standings. With a win on Saturday against Cal Poly the Gauchos would earn the No. 1 seed for The Big West Championships and be crowned the Regular Season Champions.
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Pablo Masjuan/Kai Brady (UCSB) def. Joshua Roth/Justin Lamy (UCR), 6-1
2. Gianluca Brunkow/Lucca Liu (UCSB) vs. Aarav Sane/Ryan Huynh (UCR), 5-4, unfinished
3. Conrad Brown/Luka Mrsic (UCSB) def. Hugo DeGrande/Lucas Ibarrondo Suarez, 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3
Singles
1. #65 Pablo Masjuan (UCSB) def. Joshua Roth (UCR), 6-2, 6-2
2. Gianluca Brunkow (UCSB) def. Justin Lamy (UCR), 6-1, 6-3
3. Luka Mrsic (UCSB) vs. Lucas Ibarrondo Suarez (UCR), 6-4, 2-3, unfinished
4. Lucca Liu (UCSB) def. Aarav Sane (UCR), 6-3, 6-4
5. Conrad Brown (UCSB) vs. Hugo DeGrande (UCR), 6-2, 3-4, unfinished
6. Diego Castillo (UCSB) vs. Ryan Huynh (UCR), 3-6, 2-5, unfinished
Order of finish: 4, 1, 2
UP NEXT
The Gauchos and Mustangs will meet for the Blue-Green Rivalry match on Saturday, April 20. The match is set to begin at 11 am in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
