USC Men Swing Into Title Matches
October 24, 2010 | Men's Tennis
Oct. 24, 2010
IRVINE, CALIF. - The USC men's tennis team has a championship formula going at the ITA Southwest Regional Championships, with Trojans popping into title matches across the board. Sparked by Michael Grant's consolation singles championship won today, USC has Steve Johnson and Ray Sarmiento teamed up for the doubles title match tomorrow, along with Daniel Nguyen playing for top honors in the singles side of things.
After taking a first-round loss, USC freshman Michael Grant moved into the consolation bracket, but would not be deterred. Grant rattled off six straight wins to capture the consolation crown. Grant capped off his streak with a straight-set blast of San Diego's Thibaut Visy today.
Meanwhile, Daniel Nguyen chugged through two more opponents on the main draw end. Nguyen made short work of San Diego's Dean Jackson in the quarterfinals at noon before going on to make a decisive jump into the title match with his 6-4, 6-3 win over UC Irvine's Chris Kearney in the semis. Top-seeded Ngyuen will meet up against another Wave opponent in the championships tomorrow, squaring off with No. 4 seed Sebastian Fanselow for the rights to the ITA regional singles crown.
Nguyen's fellow teammates Jaak Poldma and Ray Sarmiento had their main draw singles run cut down in the quarterfinals today. Sarmiento was upended by Fanselow, and Poldma was edged out in a three-setter to Alex Llompart of Pepperdine.
On the doubles courts, Steve Johnson and Ray Sarmiento remained on the warpath in handing out an 8-5 loss to No. 6 seed Gould/Kearney of host UC Irvine in the semifinals. Second-seeded Johnson/Sarmiento will take on top-seeded Inbar/Meister of UCLA in the doubles championship match tomorrow.
Full results and schedule from the ITA regionals are below.
ITA Southwest Regional Championships (Irvine, Calif.)
SINGLES
Round of 128 - Thurs., Oct. 21
[1] Daniel Nguyen (USC) -- bye
[17] JT Sundling (USC) -- bye
[5] Peter Lucassen (USC) -- bye
[10] Ray Sarmiento (USC) -- bye
[15] Jaak Poldma (USC) -- bye
Borja Malo (ARIZ) def. Michael Grant (USC) -- 0-6, 6-4, 6-4
Round of 64 - Thurs., Oct. 21
[1] Daniel Nguyen (USC) def. Jonathan Brooklyn (Hawaii) -- 6-1, 6-4
[17] JT Sundling (USC) def. David Humphries (ARIZ) -- 6-3, 6-3
[5] Peter Lucassen (USC) def. Daniel Moss (PEP) -- 6-2, 6-0
[10] Ray Sarmiento (USC) def. Sebastian Bustamante (LMU) -- 6-2, 6-2
[15] Jaak Poldma (USC) def. Jeff Gast (UCLA) -- 6-2, 6-2
Round of 32 -- Fri., Oct. 22
[1] Daniel Nguyen (USC) def. [17] Andre Feliz (SDSU) - 6-2, 6-1
[7] Dean Jackson (USD) def. [17] JT Sundling (USC) - 6-1, 6-3
[17] Benjamin Recknagel (UCSB) def. [5] Peter Lucassen (USC) - 6-3, 6-3
[15] Jaak Poldma (USC) def. Steven Henderson (UCI) - 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
[10] Ray Sarmiento (USC) def. [17] Jeremy Tweedt (Hawaii) - 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Round of 16 - Sat. Oct. 23
[1] Daniel Nguyen (USC) def. Mousheg Hovhannisyan (PEP) - 6-4, 6-1
[15] Jaak Poldma (USC) def. David Sofaer (PEP) - 6-2, 6-3
[10] Ray Sarmiento (USC) def. [8] Amit Inbar (UCLA) - 7-6, 6-4
Quarterfinals - Sun., Oct. 24
[1] Daniel Nguyen (USC) def. [7] Dean Jackson (USD) - 6-4, 6-0
[16] Alex Llompart (PEP) def. [15] Jaak Poldma (USC) - 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
[4] Sebastian Fanselow (PEP) def. [10] Ray Sarmiento (USC) - 7-5, 6-4
Semifinals - Sun., Oct. 24
[1] Daniel Nguyen (USC) def. [3] Chris Kearney (UCI) - 6-4, 6-3
Championship - Mon., Oct. 25
[1] Daniel Nguyen (USC) vs. [4] Sebastian Fanselow (PEP)
DOUBLES
Round of 64 - Thurs., Oct. 21
[6] Lucassen/Poldma (USC) - bye
[4] Nguyen/Sundling (USC) - bye
[2] Johnson/Sarmiento (USC) - bye
Round of 32 -- Fri., Oct. 22
[6] Lucassen/Poldma (USC) def. Fanselow/Turner (PEP) - 9-8
[4] Nguyen/Sundling (USC) def. Keplar/Sofaer (PEP) - 8-6
[2] Johnson/Sarmiento (USC) def. Jacobs/Keplar (CP) - 8-3
Round of 16 - Sat. Oct. 23
Nicholas/Vaglietti (SDSU) def. [6] Lucassen/Poldma (USC) - 8-5
[4] Nguyen/Sundling (USC) def. [9] Bridge/Dome (CP) - 8-5
[2] Johnson/Sarmiento (USC) def. Gast/TaBaTruong (UCLA) - 8-2
Quarterfinals - Sat. Oct. 23
[5] Llompart/Tearney (PEP) def. [4] Nguyen/Sundling (USC) - 8-4
[2] Johnson/Sarmiento (USC) def. Clarke/Hovhannisyan (PEP) - 8-3
Semifinals - Sun., Oct. 24
[2] Johnson/Sarmiento (USC) def. [9] Gould/Kearney (UCI) - 8-5
Championship - Mon., Oct. 25
[2] Johnson/Sarmiento (USC) vs. [1[ Inbar/Meister (UCLA)
CONSOLATION SINGLES
Round of 64
Michael Grant (USC) def. [17] Alex Brigham (UCLA) - 7-5, 7-6
Round of 32
Michael Grant (USC) def. Giovanni Vagilietti (SDSU) - 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3)
Round of 16
Michael Grant (USC) def. Austin Anders (UCR) - 7-5, 6-2
Quarterfinals
Michael Grant (USC) def. Nils Schive (USD) - 6-2, 6-0
Semifinals
Michael Grant (USC) def. Jenson Turner (PEP) - n/a
Championship
Michael Grant (USC) def. Thibaut Visy (USD) - 6-4, 6-3
Players Mentioned
