As his teammates rushed onto the court to congratulate him, Benjamin Kohlloeffel couldn’t help but let out a big smile.
The senior, who is usually composed, had just clinched the Pac-10 title for the UCLA men’s tennis team in a battle against USC’s Jamir Al-Agba.
“I think it can’t really get any better for me as a person,” Kohlloeffel said. “It was only the second match that I clinched in my three years.”
While Kohlloeffel is usually one of the first Bruins done with his singles match, he found himself in a completely new situation on Saturday night with the courts around him empty, the score tied at 3, and all the attention shifted to his match.
With his previous loss to Al-Agba in the back of his mind, Kohlloeffel made certain not to let it happen again, and there was nobody coach Billy Martin would’ve rather put the fate of his team on.
“I really had such confidence to have the NCAA champion out there to serve for the match,” Martin said. “There’s nobody you would rather have in that situation.”
After losing the doubles point, as they had in the prior meeting between the two teams, the Bruins maintained their composure before taking the courts for singles play.
Senior Philipp Gruendler, who was the first Bruin to suffer a defeat in UCLA’s 6-1 loss earlier this season, was the first to finish his match on Saturday also, but came up with a win to equalize the score at 1-1.
“I was really happy that my last regular season match went that way,” Gruendler said. “It was a little bit of relief. The last time I played him, it didn’t go too well.”
The Bruins were also ahead on three other courts at the time, making it apparent they’d have a good chance at successfully redeeming themselves and capturing their fourth consecutive Pac-10 title.
Sophomore Haythem Abid got himself back into his match on court No. 2 after being down an early break in his first set.
“We were playing at home so he started to feel the pressure,” Abid said of his opponent. “He’s the kind of player who plays well, but he cracks down. I just tried to make him make the mistakes and I was playing really well.”
But the Bruins still trailed 3-2 with junior Mathieu Dehaine and Kohlloeffel still on the courts.
Dehaine ““ who, with partner Jeremy Drean, lost a doubles match after being up 7-3 with two breaks ““ was up 4-1 in his second set, before USC’s Gary Sacks was able to make it 4-3 after winning two straight games.
However, he maintained his composure and was able to escape with a 6-3, 6-3 win to set the stage for Kohlloeffel.
“In front of everybody, it’s the best win I’ve experienced and definitely one of my best moments,” Dehaine said.
And when Kohlloeffel had finally clinched the win and conference title for the Bruins, it reminded Martin of another big win he experienced in a similar atmosphere.
“That was like an NCAA moment,” Martin said. “That was, for me, as a coach, a special, special victory.”
ALUMNI IN ATTENDANCE: Several UCLA alumni were in attendance for Saturday’s match against USC and were honored between the doubles and singles matches.
Alumni included two Grand Slam singles champions, four Grand Slam doubles champions, and 38 All-Americans.
Additionally, all members of the 2005 NCAA championship team were in attendance as well to cheer on their former teammates.
“That was one of the most important things for me,” Gruendler said of having his teammates in attendance.
“To see everyone was there, it was amazing. I looked to my side and there was everyone I would give anything for and then I look to my left and there’s everyone that I would give anything for now.”
SENIORS HONORED: Martin honored four seniors for their commitment to the program at the end of the match. Kohlloeffel, Gruendler, Chris Surapol and Jaysen Chung were introduced by Martin and presented with plaques.