Lineups weren’t the only thing the UCLA men’s tennis
team shifted around on Tuesday.
Fearing that the impending rain might suspend play, the Bruins
and UNLV opted to play their singles matches ahead of doubles.
Despite the switch in format and UCLA coach Billy Martin’s
decision to rest Chris Lam, the end-result was predictable ““
a third consecutive 7-0 win for the Bruins.
“I was real concerned just looking at the forecast saying
(the rain) might start at 12 or 1,” Martin said. “I
wanted to make sure we got the tennis in.”
The Bruins were quick to make sure the weather wouldn’t
put the match on hiatus, yielding just a total of 10 games in the
first sets of singles’ play.
Senior Alberto Francis struggled some, dropping his second set
6-4, but rebounded to win the match in a super-tiebreak, 10-5.
“I didn’t want to be the only one to lose,”
Francis said.
“I played real badly in the second set and knew if I
played well in the tiebreak, I’d win.”
It was not until after the match was already secure that the
Bruins had their serious struggle. For the third straight match,
UCLA’s No. 1 doubles team dropped its set.
After sixth-ranked Francis and Kris Kwinta had lost to Azusa
Pacific and Pacific’s top doubles’ teams, Martin chose
to move Benjamin Kohlloeffel and Luben Pampoulov to the top spot
against the Runnin’ Rebels. However, the Bruins fared no
better, falling 8-5 to Henner Nehles and Aviram Salomon.
“It’s our plague,” Martin said of the top
doubles team. “I can’t believe it. I’m going to
challenge the guys, let anyone come out here and win on Court
1.”
Meanwhile, Kwinta and Francis had a significantly easier time
playing down one spot, taking out the Rebels No. 2 team, 8-4. For
Francis, it was a nice relief to face an easier opponent and get
his first win in a doubles dual match this year.
“We can get a couple of matches under our belts and get
our confidence,” Francis said.
In singles, Jason Nguyen made his debut in dual match play in
what may be the only match he gets under his belt this season. The
redshirt sophomore, who cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 win at the No. 6
spot, is considered to be ninth on the Bruins’ depth chart,
but will likely not see much more playing time because of the
talent in front of him.
“We’re a very deep team,” Nguyen said.
“I don’t get to play much, but I feel if I went out
there, I could do a good job.”
Though in the midst of a schedule that includes five matches in
eight days, Martin does not plan on giving his starters much more
of a break. With BYU, a team that captured a point off UCLA last
year, in town today, Martin will likely play Lam and the rest of
his regular lineup.
That is if the weather allows him to.