Daniel Cukierman Advances In ITA Fall Nationals

Now two days deep into action at the Oracle ITA Fall National Championships in Newport Beach, Calif., USC men's tennis sees junior Daniel Cukierman on through to the singles Round of 16. Two straight-set singles wins has Cukierman back on a path to another deep run at the event, as he looks to reach the title match for the second straight season and go one win better to claim the crown.

Ranked #8 in the nation and the No. 4 seed in the singles draw this year, Cukierman posted a solid win in yesterday's opening round and topped Oregon's #115 Joshua Charlton 6-4, 7-6 (5) today to move into tomorrow's Round of 16 against Ohio State's Cannon Kingsley. Cukierman was one of four Trojans in the singles draw at the event. Riley Smith and Stefan Dostanic also had scored wins in the opening round to advance to today, but Smith fell to the tournament's top seed Yuya Ito today, and freshman Dostanic was upended in three sets today by #16 Hady Habib of Texas A&M. Sophomore Mor Bulis, meanwhile, fell in the first round but is alive and well in consolation action after a straight-set win today. Sophomore Jake Sands opened up with three-set win to advance, but took a loss to the #9 player in the nation in the Round of 32.

In doubles, four Trojans teamed up for two doubles duos. Both pairs won yesterday, with Bulis and Cukierman snagging an impressive three-set upset of #2-ranked pair Thomson/Wynn of Texas Tech. That lined up Bulis and Cukierman again #17 Texas pair Ito/Sigsgaard today, and the two Trojans were unable to come up with back-to-back upsets, taking a 7-5, 6-1 loss. Dostanic and Smith, meanwhile, wound up with a split after a three-set loss to Baylor's Dickerson/Soto today in the Round of 16.

This week also features the first fall action at USC's Marks Stadium, as the Southern California Intercollegiate Championships are underway. Qualifying rounds kicked off today, with senior Rae Lan picking up a first-round qualifying win to move on tomorrow in a quest for a spot in the main draw, where teammates Bradley Frye, Ryder Jackson and Jake Sands have slots. Main draw doubles also starts up tomorrow (Nov. 8) with top-seeded Frye/Jackson kicking things off in the morning.

Full USC schedule and results at both events are below.

ORACLE ITA FALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (Newport Beach, Calif.)

SINGLES
Round of 64 - Nov. 6
Riley Smith (USC) def. #40 Athell Bennett (PUR) - 7-6 (2), 6-4
[4] #8 Daniel Cukierman (USC) def. Mason Beiler (OKLA) - 6-2, 6-1
Damon Kesaris (SMC) def. Mor Bulis (USC) - 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Stefan Dostanic (USC) def. #77 Jackie Tang (COL) - 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
Jake Sands (USC) def. Tim Sandkaulen (MISS) - 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2

Round of 32 - Nov. 7
[1] #4 Yuya Ito (TEX) def. Riley Smith (USC) - 6-3, 6-3
[4] #8 Daniel Cukierman (USC) def. #115 Joshua Charlton (ORE) - 6-4, 7-6 (5)
[6] #16 Hady Habib (TAMU) def. Stefan Dostanic (USC) - 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-1
[8] #9 Jack Lin (COL) def. Jake Sands (USC) - 6-1, 6-2

Round of 16 - Nov. 8
[4] #8 Daniel Cukierman (USC) vs. [14] Cannon Kingsley (OHST) - 9 a.m.

CONSOLATION SINGLES
Round of 32 - Nov. 7
Mor Bulis (USC) def. Ondrej Styler (MICH) - 6-2, 6-2

Round of 16 - Nov. 8
Mor Bulis (USC) vs. Raphael Lambling (SCAR) - 11:30 a.m.

DOUBLES
Round of 32 - Nov. 6
Stefan Dostanic / Riley Smith (USC) def. Hammond/Hudd (OKST) - 7-5, 6-2
Mor Bulis / Daniel Cukierman (USC) def. #2 Thomson/Wynn (TT) - 6-7 (8), 6-2, 1-0 (11-9)

Round of 16 - Nov. 7
Dickerson/Soto (BAY) def. Dostanic/R. Smith (USC) - 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
[7] #17 Ito/Sigsgaard (TEX) def. Bulis/Cukierman (USC) - 7-5, 6-1

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INTERCOLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Marks Stadium | Los Angeles, Calif.)

QUALIFYING SINGLES
First Round - Nov. 7
Rae Lan (USC) def. Alex Dominguez (UCSB) - 7-6, 6-7, 1-0 (10-4)

Second Round - Nov. 8
Rae Lan (USC) vs. Alejandro Vedri Asensi

DOUBLES
Round of 16 - Nov. 8
[1] Bradley Frye / Ryder Jackson (USC) vs. Haas/Schnaitter (APU) - 10 a.m.

Players Mentioned

Mor Bulis

Daniel Cukierman

Stefan Dostanic

Bradley Frye

Ryder Jackson

Rae Lan

Jake Sands

Riley Smith