Fresno State Athletics
`Dogs Get Bitten by Bruins
1/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Jan. 29, 2012
By Kate Whitney
katewhitney23@gmail.com
GoBulldogs.com
Los Angeles, Calif. - The Fresno State men's tennis team lost to No. 9 UCLA, 4-0, at the Los Angeles Tennis Center this afternoon.
The day began promising when Jean-Charles Diame and partner Sai Kartik Nakireddi beat UCLA's No. 3 doubles team, Warren Hardie and Dennis Mkrtchian, 8-3. Unfortunately, despite all efforts from the `Dogs, that was the last Bulldog win for the day. The Bulldogs' No. 1 doubles team, Remi Boutillier and Francis Alcantara was bested by UCLA's Nick Meister and Adrien Puget, 8-6, after a back-and-forth battle.
At No. 2 doubles, David Ayoun and partner Zachary Leslie made the Bruins duo, Alex Brigham and Marcos Giron scratch for every point, 8-6. However, they were unable to pull out a win and the Bruins took the lead.
The trouble on the court continued into singles play for the `Dogs when the Bruins clinched the win in three matches. Ayoun was the first to fall to his opponent in his face off against Mkrtchian, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 5 singles.
At No. 3 singles, Diame put up a good fight against UCLA's 86th-ranked singles player Giron, but lost in the end, 6-4, 6-4. Leslie was the next Bulldog to try and keep the match alive for the team at No. 4 singles, but was bested by Tabatruong, 6-4, 6-2, which clinched the win for the Bruin team.
Three `Dogs were still on hunt for a team comeback when play was stopped due to the Bruin win. No. 14 Boutillier was facing off against UCLA's Meister at No. 1 singles, 7-5, 3-5, before the match was called. At No. 2 singles, Alcantara was in a heated battle with #72 Clay Thompson, 4-6, 2-1, and at No. 6 singles, freshman Reid DeLaubenfels took UCLA's No. 94 Puget to three sets 6-4, 0-6, 1-2.
Despite the Bulldogs heart and dedication on the court the Bruins walked away with the bid to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships hosted by University of Virginia in February.
# 9 UCLA 4, #35 Fresno State 0
Jan 29, 2012 at Los Angeles, Calif.
(Los Angeles Tennis Center)
Singles
1. Nick Meister (UCLA) vs. #14 Remi Boutillier (FSU) 5-7, 5-3, unfinished
2. #72 Clay Thompson (UCLA) vs. #44 Francis Alcantara (FSU) 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
3. #86 Marcos Giron (UCLA) def. Jean-Charles Diame (FSU) 6-4, 6-4
4. Maxime Tabatruong (UCLA) def. Zachary Leslie (FSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) def. David Ayoun (FSU) 6-4, 6-1
6. #94 Adrien Puget (UCLA) vs. Reid DeLaubenfels (FSU) 4-6, 6-0, 2-1, unfinished
Doubles
1. Meister/Puget (UCLA) def. Boutillier/Alcantara (FSU) 8-6
2. Alex Brigham/Giron (UCLA) def. Ayoun/Leslie (FSU) 9-8(6)
3. Diame/Sai Kartik Nakireddi (FSU) def. Warren Hardie/Mkrtchian (UCLA) 8-6
UCLA Wins Doubles Point
Match Notes:
Fresno State 1-1; National ranking #35 UCLA 4-0; National ranking #9
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,3,4)
UCLA advances to USTA/ITA National Team Indoors in Charlottesville, Va.
"We Are Your Team"--For more information on the Fresno State men's tennis team log on to gobulldogs.com.
