In its first home dual match of the year, UCSB upset No. 36 BYU by winning four of six singles matches to capture a 4-2 victory. The teams had to forgo the doubles matches and move play to UCSB’s Stadium Courts due to wet surfaces at the Recreation Center Courts.
With the victory over the Cougars, UCSB improves to 3-1 on the young season and captures its third consecutive win.
Matheiu Forget won his third consecutive match as he made quick work of Spencer Smith, defeating him 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. At No. 4, Axel Bouillin defeated Keaton Cullimore 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. Ziad Sultan then picked up a victory at No. 6 (6-2, 6-4 over Michael Eraso) to give UCSB a 3-2 advantage.
The No. 5 match clinched the win for the Gauchos as Mbonisi Ndimande closed out the dual with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Francis Sargeant.
The Cougars got their two wins at No. 1 with Georgy Batrakov topping Benjamin Recknagel 6-3, 6-3 and at No. 3 as Patrick Kawka topped Greg Scott 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
The Gauchos’ challenging week will continue on Saturday when they travel to top-ranked USC to take on the Trojans in a 2:30 p.m. dual match at Marks Stadium.
UCSB 4, BYU 2
Singles
#1 Georgy Batrakov (BYU) def. Benjamin Recknagel (UCSB) 6-3, 6-3
#2 Mathieu Forget (UCSB) def. Spencer Smith (BYU) 6-1, 6-1
#3 Patrick Kawka (BYU) def. Greg Scott (UCSB) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
#4 Axel Bouillin (UCSB) def. Keaton Cullimore (BYU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
#5 Mbonisi Ndimande (UCSB) def. Francis Sargeant (BYU) 7-6, 6-3
#6 Ziad Sultan (UCSB) def. Michael Eraso (BYU) 6-2, 6-4
