LA JOLLA, Calif. - Despite playing with just five players due to COVID-19 protocols, UC Santa Barbara extended it current winning sreak to four in a row with a 5-2 win at UC San Diego on Saturday afternoon.
The Gauchos (5-3 overall, 3-0 Big West) have now won 35consecutive matches against Big West Conference opponents dating back to April of 2015.
The Tritons (0-6, 0-3) got on the scoreboard first as they claimed the doubles point. Their duo of Daniel Traxler and Zach Ermert defeated Victor Krusteve and Joseph Rotheram at No. 1, 6-4. At No. 2, it was Cody Duong and Neil Tengbumroong outlasting the freshman duo of Kai Brady and Pablo Masjuan, 7-6. No. 3 doubles was not played.
UCSD made it 2-0 by scoring a point on a forfeited match at No. 6 singles, but UCSB stormed back, winning all five of the contested singles matches.
Playing at No. 4, Brady was the first off the court with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win over Tengbumroong. Josh Williams, playing in his first match of the season, singles or doubles, tied the score at 2-2 with a 6-3, 6-2 sweep of Marc Isaia at No. 6. Krustev, playing above the No. 3 spot in the lineup for the first time in 2021, recorded an impressive 6-1, 6-3 victory over Traxler, and Masjuan, playing above the No. 4 spot for the first time this season, gave his team the win with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 2. Joseph Rotheram completed the 5-2 win with a gritty 6-7, 6-4, 13-11 win at No. 3.
"This was a good come-from-behind win to keep the Big West streak alive," said head coach Marty Davis. "It was good to sweep the five singles aftrer a dismal doubles performance."
Davis was particularly pleased with the play of Krustev.
"Victor was VERY good in singles," Davis said. "He missed just three service returns in the entire match against a big server."
UCSB will remain shorthanded when it travels to UC Irvine on Sunday to play the Anteaters in another Big West match.
"UCI will be a huge challenge," Davis said, "but the Fantastic Five could pull it off."
UC Santa Barbara vs UC San Diego
4/10/2021 at La Jolla, Calif.
(Northview Tennis Courts)
UC Santa Barbara 5, UC San Diego 2
Singles competition
1. Victor Krustev (UCSB) def. Daniel Traxler (UCSD) 6-1, 6-3
2. Pablo, Masjuan (UCSB) def. Zach Ermert (UCSD) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
3. Joseph Rotheram (UCSB) def. Cody Duong (UCSD) 6-7, 6-4, 13-11
4. Kai Brady (UCSB) def. Neil Tengbumroong (UCSD) 6-1, 6-2
5. Josh Williams (UCSB) def. Marc Isaia (UCSD) 6-3, 6-2
6. Eric Silberman (UCSD) def. No player (UCSB), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Daniel Traxler/Zach Ermert (UCSD) def. Victor Krustev/Joseph Rotheram (UCSB) 6-4
2. Cody Duong/Neil Tengbumroong (UCSD) def. Kai Brady/Pablo, Masjuan (UCSB) 7-6
3. Eric Silberman/William Lan (UCSD) def. No player/No player (UCSB), by forfeit
Match Notes:
UC Santa Barbara 5-3
UC San Diego 0-6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,5,1,2,3)
