Texas Tech Athletics
No. 4 UCLA
No. 4 UCLA Tops Texas Tech, 4-1
January 25, 2015 | Men's Tennis
January 25, 2015
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Texas Tech's six-match winning streak was snapped on Saturday, as the Red Raiders fell to No. 4 UCLA, 4-1, in the second round of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
"What a great match," said Texas Tech head coach Tim Siegel. "We had a big chance to win the doubles point. We lost five first sets but battled. I am proud of our fight and effort."
It is the second straight year that Texas Tech (6-2) has fallen to UCLA (3-0) in the second round of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Last season, the Red Raiders were blanked by the No. 2 Bruins, 4-0.
Joseph Di Giulio and Karue Sell picked up the first win of the day for UCLA, as the Bruin tandem topped Victor Cornea and Alex Sendegeya, 6-2, at No. 2. Texas Tech answered with one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, as the Red Raider No. 35 tandem of Hugo Dojas and Felipe Soares ousted No. 11 Mackenzie McDonald and Martin Redlicki, 6-4.
Texas Tech's Connor Curry and Francisco Zambon battled Dennis Mkrtchian and Austin Rapp, but the UCLA duo edged out the Red Raiders, 6-4, to earn the first point.
No. 7 McDonald extended UCLA's lead to 2-0 after he upended No. 28 Soares, 6-0, 6-3. Belgium native Jolan Cailleau gave Texas Tech its first point of the day, as the Tech sophomore dropped Di Giulio, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.
Despite dropping the first set in five matches, the Red Raiders battled back to win the second set in four of the matches against on the top-ranked teams in the nation.
No. 88 Redlicki topped Cornea, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at No. 3 to extend UCLA's lead to 3-1. Sell clinched the win for the Bruins with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory over Tech freshman Sendegeya.
Both Dojas and Curry had their matches abandoned in the third set.
"We will build on this," added Siegel. "It is so disappointing to be that close but overall it was a successful 11-day eight match trip."
Texas Tech will continue its road warrior ways on Saturday, when Texas Tech heads to Starkville, Miss., to face Rice and Mississippi State.
ITA KICK-OFF WEEKEND
Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles Tennis Center)
#4 UCLA 4, #48 Texas Tech 1
Singles
1. #7 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. #28 Felipe Soares (TT) 6-0, 6-3
2. Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) vs. Hugo Dojas (TTU) 7-6, 3-6, 1-0, unfinished
3. #88 Martin Redlicki (UCLA) def. Victor Cornea (TTU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
4. Karue Sell (UCLA) def. Alex Sendegeya (TTU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
5. Jolan Cailleau (TTU) def. Joseph Di Giulio (UCLA) 7-6, 6-3
6. #90 Austin Rapp (UCLA) vs. Connor Curry (TTU) 6-2, 5-7, 2-2, unfinished
Doubles
1. #35 Hugo Dojas / Felipe Soares (TT) def. #11 Mackenzie McDonald / Martin Redlicki (UCLA) 6-4
2. Joseph Di Giulio / Karue Sell (UCLA) def. Victor Cornea / Alex Sendegeya (TT) 6-2
3. Dennis Mkrtchian / Austin Rapp (UCLA) def. Connor Curry / Francisco Zambon (TT) 6-4
Records: #48 Texas Tech 6-2; #4 UCLA 3-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,5,3,4)
Players Mentioned
