SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Stefano Tsorotiotis and Pablo Masjuan each won their singles matches for UC Santa Barbara on Friday afternoon, but 18th-ranked Arizona was too much, winning a 5-2 decision.
The Wildcats (13-1) got off to a quick start by sweeping the doubles point. Jonas Ziverts and Jett Middleton defeated Tsorotiotis and Kai Brady at the No. 1 spot, 6-2. Alejandro Reguant and Carlos Hassey topped Victor Krustev and Joseph Rotheram by the same 6-2 score at No. 2. In the No. 3 slot, Gustaf Storm and Filip Malbasic had a tough time with Joseph Guillin and Alejandro Vedri, but still won 6-4.
In singles, the Gauchos (1-2) evened the match when Tsorotiotis was the first off the court with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Ziverts at No. 2. Reguant swept Vedri at No. 4, 6-2, 6-2. At No. 3, Malbasic topped the reigning Big West Player of the Week, Victor Krustev, 6-4, 6-1.
"Tip of the hat to Stefano," said head coach Marty Davis. "Beating a ranked opponent is great for him. He was really good today."
At No. 1, Strom and Guillin battled tough in the first set, but in the end it was Strom clinching the win for his team with a 7-5, 6-2 victory.
"Joseph had set point in the first and couldn't put it away," Davis said. "If he had, his match could have been a different story."
At No. 5, Nick Lagaev struggled to a 6-7, 7-5, (10-6) win over Rotheram. At No. 5, Masjuan was pushed to the limit, but gave UCSB its second point with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over Hassey.
"Pablo is going to be a very good player," Davis said. "He had lost his first two matches, so it was good to see him get his first collegiate win."
Despite the loss, Davis had some positive feelings after the match.
"This was actually a pretty close match," he said. "We were very competitive against the 18th-ranked team in the country and that's something we can build on."
The Gauchos are off until after final examinations. They will host another Pac 12 foe, Washington, on Wednesday, Mar. 24 in a 1:00 p.m. match at the Recreation Center Courts. The match will be played without spectators.
Final Score: Arizona 5, UC Santa Barbara 2
Singles
No. 1 - Gustaf Strom (UA) def. Joseph Guillin (UCSB) - 7-5, 6-2
No. 2 - Stefano Tsorotiotis (UCSB) def. No. 50 Jonas Ziverts (UA) - 6-3, 6-3
No. 3 - Filip Malbasic (UA) def. Victor Krustev (UCSB) - 6-4, 6-1
No. 4 - Alejandro Reguant (UA) def. Alejandro Vedri (UCSB) 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 - Nick Lagaev (UA) def. Joseph Rotheram (UCSB) - 6-7, 7-5 (10-6)
No. 6 - Pablo Masjuan (UCSB) def. Carlos Hassey (UA) - 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5, 6
Doubles
No. 1 - Ziverts/Jett Middleton (UA) def. Tsorotiotis/Kai Brady (UCSB) - 6-2
No. 2 - Reguant/Hassey (UA) def. Krustev/Rotheram (UCSB) - 6-2
No. 3 - Strom/Malbasic (UA) def. Guillin/Vedri (UCSB) - 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
