SAN DIEGO – The seventh-ranked Columbia men's tennis team had to grind out a gutsy road win over No. 6 San Diego, 4-3, on Monday afternoon at the Hogan Tennis Center.
Columbia extended its winning streak to five straight and improved to 10-3 overall this season. The win over the Toreros (14-3) gave the Lions their seventh win over a ranked team this year and fifth against a team in the top 25.
The Lions captured the doubles point thanks to wins in the two and three matches. The duo of
Max Westphal and
Sachin Palta posted a convincing 6-0 win over Neo Niedner / Savriyan Danilov.
Hugo Hashimoto and
Jayden Templeman clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win against Nikhil Niranjan/Adrien Berrut in the No. 3 spot.
Westphal got the Lions on the board in the singles, defeating Adrien Berrut 6-3, 6-1. The Toreros bounced back, capturing the number five position. USD's Neo Niedner defeated
Thanaphat Boosarawongse 6-2, 6-3. With the Lions leading 2-1, Columbia sealed the win defeating San Diego in the two and six position. No. 30
Nicolas Kotzen defeated No. 52 Savriyan Danilov 7-6 (9-7), 6-3. Palta clinched the match with a stellar win over Blake Kasday, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.
The Toreros did not make it easy on the Lions. Looking to avoid their first loss at home this year, USD got wins in the number one and number three singles matches. In the one spot, No. 8 Oliver Tarvet upset No. 1
Michael Zheng in three sets, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. In the three position, No. 114 Stian Klaassen of USD defeated No. 51 Hashimoto 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
RESULTS
#7 Columbia 4, #6 San Diego 3
Doubles
1. #36
Michael Zheng/
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) vs. #2 Oliver Tarvet/Stian Klaassen 3-5 (unfinished)
2.
Max Westphal /
Sachin Palta (COL) def. Neo Niedner / Savriyan Danilov (USD) 6-0
3.
Hugo Hashimoto/
Jayden Templeman (COL) def. Nikhil Niranjan/Adrien Berrut (USD) 6-4
Singles
1. #8 Oliver Tarvet (USD) def. #1
Michael Zheng (COL) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
2. #30
Nicolas Kotzen (COL) def. #52 Savriyan Danilov (USD) 7-6, 6-3
3. 114 Stian Klaassen (USD) def. #51
Hugo Hashimoto (COL) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
4.
Max Westphal (COL) def. Adrien Berrut (USD) 6-3, 6-2
5. Neo Niedner (USD) def.
Thanaphat Boosarawongse (COL) 6-2, 6-3
6.
Sachin Palta (COL) def. Blake Kasday (USD) 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,5,2,3,6,1)
UP NEXT
Columbia wraps up its California road trip on Thursday when the Lions make the trip north up the 405 freeway to take on No. 28 Pepperdine. The match against the Waves is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. ET.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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