SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A strong doubles performance and a trio of singles victories helped shorthanded UC Santa Barbara defeat UC Riverside in a Big West tennis match on Friday afternoon, 4-3.

The Gauchos (6-4 overall, 4-1 Big West), now playing without four players due to COVID protocols, had little room for error against the Highlanders (1-9, 0-3). 

UCSB won both of the contested doubles matches to claim the first point. At No. 1, junior Victor Krustev and freshman Kai Brady cruised past Gilbert Chung and Joshua Roth, 6-3. At No. 2, another freshman, Pablo Masjuan, and senior Joseph Rotheram defeated UCR's Nolan MCaig and Antreas Djakouris, 6-2. 

"Our doubles were a positive for us today," said head coach Marty Davis. "We changed things up a bit and it paid off."

Santa Barbara won just enough singles matches to claim the victory. The first off the court was Brady at No. 4 as he swept past Roth, 6-2, 6-1. Krustev, who was named Big West Player of the Week on Monday, defeated Chung at No. 1, 6-3, 6-2. Masjuan closed out the match at No. 2 with a sweep of Djakouris, 6-2, 6-3. Rotheram fell in his match against McCaig at No. 3, 5-7, 6-2, 10-9 (college tiebreaker in third set), and Luka Vukmanovic dropped his contest at No. 5 to Jayson Blando, 6-4, 6-3. 

"Pablo played well and our freshmen (Masjuan and Brady) continue to progress," Davis said. "It was also good that we secured, at the worst, the No. 3 seed at the Big West Tournament."

The Gauchos will try to force a three-way tie for first on Saturday when they host Cal Poly in a 10:00 a.m. match at the Recreation Center Courts. A win and there would, most likely, be a three-way tie between UCSB, UC Irvine and Cal Poly for the top spot in the league. 

Following Saturday's match against the Mustangs, Santa Barbara is off until it travels to San Diego State on Wednesday, April 28. The next day, the team starts the Big West Tournament in search of its sixth-straight championship. The 2021 Big West Tournament will be plyaed at The Great Park in Irvine, Calif.

UC Riverside vs UC Santa Barbara
4/16/2021 at Santa Barbara, Calif.
(Recreation Center Courts)
UC Santa Barbara 4, UC Riverside 3

Singles competition
1. Victor Krustev (UCSB) def. Gilbert Chung (UCR) 6-3, 6-2
2. Pablo, Masjuan (UCSB) def. Antreas Djakouris (UCR) 6-2, 6-3
3. Nolan McCaig (UCR) def. Joseph Rotheram (UCSB) 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (4-0)
4. Kai Brady (UCSB) def. Joshua Roth (UCR) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jayson Blando (UCR) def. Luka Vukmanovic (UCSB) 6-4, 6-3
6. Bingru Chen (UCR) def. No player (UCSB), by default

Doubles competition
1. Victor Krustev/Kai Brady (UCSB) def. Gilbert Chung/Joshua Roth (UCR) 6-3
2. Pablo, Masjuan/Joseph Rotheram (UCSB) def. Nolan McCaig/Antreas Djakouris (UCR) 6-2
3. Jayson Blando/Michael Blando (UCR) def. No player/No player (UCSB), by default

Match Notes:
UC Riverside 1-9 overall, 0-3 BWC
UC Santa Barbara 6-4 overall, 4-1 BWC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,4,1,2,5,3)
T-2:35