SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The No. 42 UCSB Men's Tennis team went for its fifth straight win Saturday afternoon downing No. 38 San Diego State 5-2. The Gauchos improve to a 6-3 overall record despite playing their first nine matches on the road.
The Aztecs had a great jump out of the gates as they took doubles match wins on courts two and three to give them a 1-0 lead to start. Milen Ianakiev and Santiago Cavallos got off the court quickly with a 6-2 win on two to set San Diego up for the doubles point and the duo of Hendrik Jebens and Sander Gjoels-Andersen sealed it despite fighting a close battle on three that ended 7-6. The No. 44 team of Nathan Eshmade and Miles Seemann battled back to what was nearly a victory on court one at 5-4 in their favor, but time expired with the completions of the other matches
Trailing 1-0, the Gauchos headed into singles play in need of at least four individual wins to take home the match as a team. The nation's 42nd ranked team rose to the occasion winning five of the six to take an overall win 5-2.
No. 83 Nicolas Moreno de Alboran was the first off his court at two with a straight set win over Jebens 6-4, 6-4. This win notches the freshman's sixth straight in dual match play, most of which have also come in sweeps.
Captain Morgan Mays finished just a game later on court three topping his opponent in two sets as well. The junior put his team up 2-1 on the board with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Ianakiev.
San Diego's Marko Goles-Babic had the one answer of the match for the Aztecs with a sweep on court four that put his team back in the match at 2-2. He bested Cody Rakela 6-3, 6-4.
With a tie in place, the Gauchos went on to win the next three matches with freshman Anders Holm claiming the match clincher with a win on court five. The young Gaucho topped Gjoels-Andersen in a best of three 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 to give his team the overall win.
Teague Hamilton added a strong win on court six in his season debut for Santa Barbara as he beat Jonas Meinzer in two sets and a break 6-4, 7-6(2). Nathan Eshmade added another point for the Gauchos, despite sealing the match victory, as he defeated a ranked opponent in No. 69 Freddy Gelbrich. The senior gave his team a strong final score of 5-2 as he took the last two sets of his match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The Gauchos will return home with a 6-3 record and will host their season opener this Saturday against the No. 68 Pacific Tigers, followed by a match with the No. 73 Bulldogs of Fresno State on Sunday.
UCSB 5, SDSU 2
Singles
1. Nathan Eshmade (UCSB) def. No. 69 Freddy Gelbrich (SDSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
2. No. 83 Nicolas Moreno de Alboran (UCSB) def. Hendrik Jebens (SDSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Morgan Mays (UCSB) def. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) def. Cody Rakela (UCSB) 6-3, 6-4
5. Anders Holm (UCSB) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
6. Teague Hamilton (UCSB) def. Jonas Meinzer (SDSU) 6-4, 7-6 (2)
Order of Finish: 2,3,4,6,5,1
Doubles
1. No. 44 Nathan Eshmade/Miles Seemann (UCSB) vs. Freddy Gelbrich/Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU) 5-4, unfinished
2. Milen Ianakiev/Santiago Cevallos (SDSU) def. Nicolas Moreno de Alboran/Chase Masciorini (UCSB) 6-2
3. Hendrik Jebens/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU) def. Anders Holm/Andrew Riminton (UCSB) 7-6
Order of Finish: 2,3,(1)
