There were just two things that senior Kris Kwinta could think
about doing after the UCLA men’s tennis team’s first
match against USC this season ““ a match that ended in a
heartbreaking 5-2 defeat for the Bruins.
Though neither action was very realistic at the time, just the
thought reveals how devastating that loss was for the players.
“It’s hard to describe,” Kwinta said.
“You go back to your dorm or your apartment, and you just
want to fall asleep forever. Or you want to go back on the court
and just kick the guy’s ass right away. You just cannot wait
for the moment when you can get your revenge.”
Kwinta’s second wish can become a reality today when the
No. 19 Trojans (11-10, 3-3 Pac-10) visit the Los Angeles Tennis
Center in the regular season finale for both teams.
It will be a chance for the No. 7 Bruins (20-3, 5-1) to erase
the haunting memories of last time.
After winning the doubles point and the first set in four of six
singles matches at USC on March 1, the Bruins crumbled, dropping
five of the six singles matches to lose to the Trojans.
The USC fraternity guys in attendance went crazy, several
players poured Gatorade on USC coach Peter Smith, and the Bruins
pledged that it wouldn’t happen again.
“It’s the only chance we have for revenge,”
sophomore Philipp Gruendler said. “We feel terrible about
that loss, so the only time for payback is this Friday.”
The Bruins are so critical of themselves for that loss because
of the manner in which it happened. They admit they got rattled by
the crowd when things started going poorly. They believe they have
a better team than the Trojans, and they feel embarrassed by the
loss.
“It’s probably one of the worst losses I’ve
had at UCLA in my four years,” senior Alberto Francis said.
“Losing at NCAAs is always depressing, but to lose at
‘SC after being up the whole match with those obnoxious fans,
it’s horrible.”
Francis said he felt personally responsible for the loss,
dropping a tough match to Trojan freshman Kaes Van’t Hof,
6-3, 3-6, 7-5, at the No. 5 spot. It was that loss that clinched
the win for the Trojans, who have lost three in a row heading into
today’s match.
“If he had played 70 percent of his capabilities, he
wouldn’t have lost,” assistant coach Jason Sher said of
Francis’ match. “But he didn’t play well and he
didn’t respond well to the crowd.”
There were several uncharacteristic performances from the Bruins
back on March 1.
The usually unflappable Benjamin Kohlloeffel, ranked No. 8 in
the nation, lost 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 to Drew Hoskins at the No. 2
position.
Gruendler and Kwinta also lost three-set matches, while Luben
Pampoulov, who was still suffering with a pinched nerve in his
neck, retired in the third set.
“We’ve been preparing ourselves for this match since
we lost,” Kwinta said. “Every time we played, every
practice we had, we were thinking toward this match.”
Now the day has arrived, and the Bruins couldn’t be more
excited.
A win would guarantee them a share of the Pac-10 title, and also
avoid a season sweep by the Trojans, which hasn’t happened
since 1988. In fact, UCLA has won 19 of the last 24 meetings
between the schools.
The memory of last time has kept the Bruins going this
season.
And though UCLA coach Billy Martin insists the first loss will
be helpful in the long run, nobody wants it to happen again.
“We’re looking forward to it, and it’s only
huge because we lost to them,” Martin said. “It hurt
us.”
Today is a chance to relieve the pain ““ a chance to wake
up and play.