SEATTLE, Wash. – The No. 54 UCSB Men's Tennis team put a digit in its win column in its first dual match of the season. The Gauchos traveled north to face No. 63 Washington and defeated the Huskies 4-3 to hand the them their first loss of the year. Senior Nathan Eshmade emerged as a hero in his last, first match with a walk-off singles victory and an effort in doubles play that set up the Gauchos for a team win.
"The team looked great out there today," Eshmade said. "We've been training really hard and we showed it. We really wanted this win."
The team started off the day splitting the first two doubles matches as the duo of Anders Holm and
Chase Masciorini was able to defeat Washington's Mitch Stewart and Kawika Lam 7-5 on court three. With the Huskies claiming a victory on court two, the doubles point came down to Eshmade and
Miles Seemann on court one.
The Gaucho duo faced Piers Foley and Enzo Sommer who held the match in their hands serving with just one game needed for a win. Eshmade and Seemann would not be quieted early as they battled back to tie 6-6 with the Huskies and force a tiebreaker set. The two teams battled until the Gauchos emerged victorious 8-6, giving them an overall 7-6 win and a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
Despite trailing by a point, the Huskies opened up singles play with two straight victories on courts one and four. No. 84 Mitch Stewart and Sommer both won in straight sets to give Washington the overall lead of 2-1.
Two freshman of Santa Barbara's No. 15 recruiting class gave the Gauchos the edge back in the middle of the match, reeling in singles wins in their first collegiate dual match. Anders Holm swept Rish Raman in straight sets of 6-4, 6-2 and Oliver Sec battled his way to a third set victory of 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 over Joao Barra. Up 3-2, the Gauchos needed just one victory to close the match.
On court three, No. 81 Nicolas Moreno de Alboran battled to force a third set after dropping the opener, but fell in the final to Jake Douglas 2-6, 6-3, 1-6. With the score all even at 3-3, the Gauchos looked to
Nathan Eshmade for the win, who is no newcomer to high-pressure situations. The senior clinched two match-winning victories last season that gave the Gauchos their undefeated home record and the Big West Tournament Championship.
Eshmade's opponent, No. 122 Gal Hakak, took the first set 6-2 and again the Huskies had the match in their hands as Hakak served to Eshmade with match point. Against all odds the senior grinded and evened the set 6-6 and pushed in the tiebreaker to win the set 7-6 (7) forcing a third and final set of the match.
Carrying the momentum from his second set, Eshmade hustled to his win in a hurry taking the final set convincingly 6-1. He dropped to his knees as his teammates surrounded him following an errant shot from Hakak that ended the day.
"We've really prepared for this season and the guys played some great tennis today," Head Coach Marty Davis said. "It was a great win for the Gauchos."
The Gauchos are not yet done in Seattle, as they will see No. 12 Texas tomorrow at 2pm.
Results:
Singles:
Court 1 – (UW) Stewart def. (UCSB) Mays 6-1, 6-2
Court 2 – (UCSB) Eshmade def. (UW) Hakak 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-1
Court 3 – (UW) Douglas def. (UCSB) Moreno 6-2, 3-6, 6-
Court 4 – (UW) Enzo def. (UCSB) Rakela 6-4, 6-2
Court 5 – (USCB) Sec def. (UW) Barra 6-1, 1-6, 6-1
Court 6 – (UCSB) Holm def. (UW) Raman 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: 1, 4, 6, 5, 3, 2
Doubles:
Court 1 – (USCB) Eshmade/Seemann def. (UW) Foley/Sommer 7-6 (8)
Court 2 – (UW) Douglas/Watanabe def. (UCSB) Mays/Moreno 6-4
Court 3 – (UCSB) Holm/Masciorini def. (UW) Lam/Stewart 7-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
