MEN’S TENNIS — The Tritons hit the road for
California
before the West Regional commences on May 8. Despite the sudden and unexpected
departure of senior cornerstone Blake Meister last week, the Tritons managed to
put together a solid performance in their matches, splitting the road trip
against
According to junior Kaz Negishi, Meister left for personal
reasons but the team is doing its best to progress without him.
“It was tough for Blake to leave us at such a critical point
in the season,” said Negishi, who will shoulder most of the responsibility for
Meister’s absence, being one of three players who must move up in the ladder.
“Everybody on the team feels the pressure of playing against improved
competition, but I’m confident our guys won’t be fazed by the challenge that’s
been presented to us.”
In their first match without their celebrated senior, the
Tritons started the road trip on a high note, beating No. 34 Sonoma State 6-3
to even their season record at 10-10. In doubles, UCSD grabbed an early 2-1
lead that was set up by solid performances at the top two spots. With the
nation’s top doubles duo of Meister and senior Eric Rubens gone, coach Eric
Steidlmayer coupled sophomore Alex Placek with Rubens, a partnership that has
shown potential in their short time together. Placek and Rubens showed just how
dominant they could be, blowing by Andy Muesse and Brett McNulty of
experienced Rubens, and believes that this new doubles team can do some serious
damage at the tail end of their schedule.
“Meister and Rubens were a wonderful team that got to No. 1
in the nation,” Placek said. “Eric is such a smart doubles player who has
helped me with the ins and outs of what it takes to become a better player at
the net, something that’s key for doubles. We are constantly improving as a
team each and every day, and I think this hard work will pay off in the
postseason.”
In the second doubles spot, sophomore Bijam Moallemi and
Negishi combined to take out Connor Olson and Jeff Stollberg by the same 8-2
score. UCSD dropped the third doubles match by an 8-4 score, with the combo of
senior Alex Whitmore and sophomore Brandon Low falling to Logan Bailey and
Jordan Smith from Sonoma State.
Moallemi and Rubens continued their great play at the top of
the singles ladder with routine victories. Playing at the top spot, Moallemi
defeated Muesse 6-3, 7-6, while Rubens looked dominant in dispatching Olson
6-2, 6-1. Negishi took part in the match of the day at the No. 3 spot, losing a
nail biter to Stollberg, 6-2, 4-6, (10-7). Placek also lost a tough three
setter, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, to McNulty. However, Low and freshman Vincent Nguyen
were able to clinch the UCSD victory at the fifth and sixth spots with clutch
performances. Low had no problem in dismantling Jeremy Heckley, 6-3, 6-2, and
Nguyen took control of his match against Quan Vu after a difficult first set to
win 7-6, 6-2 for UCSD’s sixth match win of the day.
After winning their first match against a lesser Division-II
power, the Tritons set out to take care of business against UC Davis, a
Division-I team. The match was close throughout, with
just squeaking by with a 5-4 win. In defeat, the Tritons put together a great
performance in another match that will serve UCSD well as it prepares for the
postseason. In doubles, Rubens and Placek continued their success at the top
spot, beating Daniel Elefant and Michael Reiser 8-6. The Aggies would win the
other two doubles matches with an 8-5 win for Henri Landes and Justin Garcia
over Moallemi and Negishi at No. 2 and a 8-4 victory for Nic Amaroli and Kevin
Liang over Whitmore and freshman Armaun Emami, making their debut as a doubles
team at the third spot.
Singles proved to be extremely competitive, with the tie’s
final result lying in the balance. Moallemi and Rubens once again anchored the
Tritons at the top two spots in singles, winning in routine fashion. Moallemi
beat Landes 6-4, 6-4, while Rubens beat Reiser 6-4, 7-6. At the third singles spot,
Negishi lost to Garcia, 7-6, 6-2, losing momentum after a tough first set.
Placek and Low fell in rough three-set matches. Placek battled back from an
early deficit, but lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to Elefant while Low fell 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
to Nick Lopez at the fifth spot that broke the tie and decided the match.
Finally, Nguyen had little trouble beating Nick Lee 6-4, 6-2 at the last
singles spot. Even with the loss, the Tritons showed that without Meister, they
will still be a tough team to handle in the West Regional, which will begin in
a little less than two weeks.
