LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Men's Tennis team wrapped up their fall season with a great showing at the Dennis Rizza JKC Collegiate Championships. Two gauchos made it to the quarterfinal round in singles play while a Gaucho doubles pairing made it to the championship match.

SINGLES COMPETITION
Six of the seven UC Santa Barbara student-athletes competing in singles competition opened their tournament in the round of 32. Lucca Liu, Luka Mrsic and Pierre Boullenger all won their opening round matchup with Liu and Mrsic winning in straight sets. Unfortunately, Kai Brady, Diego Castillo and Conrad Brown all fell in the opening round. Gianluca Burnkow was the lone Gauchos to receive an opening round bye. 

In the round of 16 Lucca Liu dropped a tough three-set matchup. Two of the sets were decided by the seven point tiebreaker. Liu fell 6-7(4), 7-6(4) and 3-6. Luka Mrsic earned a three-set victory and was one of two Gauchos to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Championship. Brunkow earned a straight-set victory over his opponent and was the second Gaucho to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. 

Mrsic and Brunkow would ultimately be knocked out of the tournament after falling in straight-sets to their opponents. 

DOUBLES COMPETITION
UC Santa Barbara had three doubles teams in the 16-team tournament. Gianluca Brunkow and Pierre Boullenger were partners, Conrad Brown and Luka Mrsic were the second duo and Kai Brady and Lucca Liu rounded out the doubles teams. 

Brunkow and Boullenger lost a heartbreaker in the opening round falling 8-7(4) to John Kim and Jonathan Irwanto of Cal. Brown and Mrsic dominated in their opening round advancing after an 8-3 victory. After just one win the two were in the quarterfinal round.

Kai Brady and Lucca Liu were awarded an opening round by and were automatically placed in the quarterfinal round. Both the doubles teams would advance to the semifinal round after victories in the quarterfinal. Brown and Mrsic won a tough battle and advanced with an 8-7(6) win. Brady and Liu defeated their opponents 8-5. 

The final two doubles teams would go head-to-head against each other in the semifinal round. Brady and Liu would win the battle of UC Santa Barbara defeating Brown and Mrsic 8-7(5) and advanced to the championship match. 

In the championship match the duo would meet Spencer Johnson and Emon Van Loben Sels of UCLA. The match did not go in their favor as they would take second place in doubles competition after falling 8-2.

The tournament concluded the end of the fall season for the UC Santa Barbara Men's Tennis team. The Gauchos will take the next couple of months to prepare for the fast-approaching spring season.

The Gauchos' spring season schedule will be announced soon!