USC
Texas
Torres Wins Match For Third-Ranked Trojans
March 25, 2004 | Men's Tennis
March 25, 2004
AUSTIN, Texas - In a match that came down to the wire, senior Ruben Torres won the final match of the night to lift the third-ranked USC men's tennis team over 28th-ranked Texas, 4-3, on Thursday at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center in Austin. With the win, the Trojans improve to 13-2 overall, while the Longhorns drop to 10-7.
"It was a different environment for us," said USC head coach Peter Smith. "We played at night, on the road and in front of an enthusiastic Texas crowd, but we found a way to win. There is really no one else I would rather have in that position for us, than Ruben Torres."
After dropping the doubles point, USC began singles play by capturing three straight victories, only to watch the Longhorns even the score with singles wins at courts one and two. Tied at 3-3, Torres and Texas' Joe Morris were left to decide the match at the No. 6 position.
Morris took the first set 6-2 and Torres fought back to win the second set 7-5. Despite the close second set, the match got even closer in the third as Torres won 7-3 in a breaker to beat Morris, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, and clinch the victory for the Trojans.
In addition to his crucial singles victory, Torres and doubles partner Adriano Biasella captured USC's only doubles victory by defeating Will Clinton and Ryan Haymond, 9-8, at No. 3.
USC continues its road trip on Saturday, March 27, when it travels to Tulsa, Okla., to face the Golden Hurricanes at 5 p.m. CST.
#3 USC 4, #28 Texas 3
Doubles
(1) #17 Ruiz/Zarhi (Texas) def. #9 Hoskins/Langre (USC) - 8-5
(2) Stroer/Haney (Texas) def. Parker Collins/Berg (USC) - 8-5
(3) Torres/Biasella (USC) def. Will Clinton/Haymond (Texas) - 9-8
Texas wins doubles point.
Singles
(1) #68 Antonio Ruiz (Texas) def. #71 Johan Berg (USC) - 5-7, 6-4, 7-6
(2) Jose Zarhi (Texas) def. #42 Jamil Al-Agba (USC) - 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
(3) #26 Adriano Biasella (USC) def. #97 Pete Stroer (Texas) - 7-5, 6-4
(4) #92 Drew Hoskins (USC) def. Jimmy Haney (Texas) - 6-2, 6-2
(5) Daniel Langre (USC) def. Ryan Haymond (Texas) - 7-5, 6-2
(6) #47 Ruben Torres (USC) def. Joe Morris (Texas) - 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3)
* Match clinching win.
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 5, 2, 1, 6
Players Mentioned
