April 14, 2012
Aggies 5 – 2 Highlanders
UCR men’s tennis travelled north to face UC Davis for its second conference fixture of the 2012 season. The Highlanders were looking to get their first conference win after dropping the first game against UCI, while the Aggies were looking to get back on the winning track after nine consecutive losses.
The action began with doubles matches. In the first game of the afternoon, UCR’s Felix Macherez and Austin Andres thrashed UCD’s Kyle Miller and Toki Sherbakov by 8-0. The doubles match got even as UCD’s Josh Albert and Hugo Verdi-Fortin defeated UCR’s Luis Gastao and Kevin Griffin in a one-sided match with a final result of 8-1. The Highlanders were close to scoring the doubles point after a close game at court No. 3 where UCR’s Simon Peters and Jimmy Roberts faced UCD’s Alec Haley and Chris Aria in a tight match, which the Highlanders dropped in the latter games of the match. The final result of the match was 8-6.
In singles action, UCD dominated UCR in most matches. UCR’s team captain Austin Andres had a perfect afternoon after defeating UCD’s Chris Aria by 6-3 and 6-4. The Aggies hit back when Toki Sherbakov defeated UCR’s Felix Macherez in a match in which both players hit amazing points, the final result was 7-5, 6-2. The second point for the Highlanders came thanks to a victory at court No. 4 by Luis Gastao over UCD’s Hugo Verdi-Fortin who retired in the third set. Yet, these two victories were not enough for the Highlanders as UCD scored the remaining three points in play.
April 15, 2012
Tigers 5 – 2 Highlanders
In their third conference match, the Highlanders faced a Pacific team looking to get back on the winning track after dropping its last game against UCI.
In doubles action, UCR dropped the point after a tight encounter that saw the Highlanders lose at court No. 1. UCR’s team captain Austin Andres and partner Felix Macherez faced Pacific’s Ivan Castro and Valentim Goncalves Jr. Tigers and Highlanders fought every point fiercely but it was Pacific’s tennis pace that caught up to UCR, with the Tigers winning 9-7. At court No. 3, UCR got the leveler, as Simon Peters and Jimmy Roberts defeated Pacific’s Jainendra Grewal and Ben Mirkin 8-5. The doubles point was decided at court No. 2, UCR’s Luis Gastao and Kevin Griffin faced Pacific’s Alex Hamilton and Denis Stolyarov in a game that was dominated by the Tigers from end to end, with the victory by 8-3 Pacific scored the doubles point.
In singles action, UCR pressed Pacific but it wasn’t enough to win the match. Highlander Kelly Dickson defeated Pacific’s Jainendra Grewal by 6-4, 6-4. At court No. 3 UCR’s team captain Austin Andres dropped his game against Pacific’s Erik Cederwall by 6-3, 6-3. UCR’s Luis Gastao scored the Highlanders’ second point after defeating in a three-set match Pacific’s Valentim Goncalves Jr. by 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. UCR played the best tennis at times, but it wasn’t enough to get the overall win over Pacific.
Next for the Highlanders is a home game against UC Santa Barbara on April 21.
