College Tennis News - No. 13 Golden Bears Host USC and UCLA

BERKELEY – The 13th-ranked California men’s tennis team (3-0) hosts UCLA (4-0) and USC (4-0) in a pair of non-conference dual matches, this weekend, at the Hellman Tennis Complex. The Golden Bears won both matches against the Bruins, a year ago, and claimed their first win against UCLA on the road since 2006. Cal’s only meeting against the three-time defending NCAA champion Trojans ended in a 4-1 defeat, at home.

THIS WEEK:
No. 13 California (3-0) vs. No. 9 UCLA (4-0)
Hellman Tennis Complex | Berkeley, Calif.
Friday, Feb. 3 – 1:30 p.m. PT

No. 13 California (3-0) vs. No. 1 USC (4-0)
Hellman Tennis Complex | Berkeley, Calif.
Saturday, Feb. 4 – 1 p.m. PT

Cal and UCLA will take the courts for a 1:30 p.m. PT dual on Friday, Feb. 3. The Bears and the Trojans will match up at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4.

The Bears are led by their senior class of Nick Andrews, Ahmed Ismail, and Tommie Murphy. Cal’s only ranked singles player is No. 42 sophomore Ben McLachlan. The Bears do, however, have two ranked doubles teams. Andrews teams with junior Christoffer Konigsfeldt to form the fifth-ranked duo in the nation. Junior Carlos Cueto and McLachlan create the 27th-ranked tandem in the country.

The Bruins carry three ranked singles players on their roster led by No. 72-ranked sophomore Clay Thompson. He is followed by 86th-ranked freshman Marcos Giron, and No. 94-ranked sophomore Adrien Puget. UCLA does not have any ranked doubles teams.

USC’s lineup does not include a ranked doubles team, either, but boasts five ranked singles players, as well as the defending NCAA singles champion in senior Steve Johnson. 12th-ranked sophomore Ray Sarmiento leads the quintet and is followed closely by 16th-ranked senior Daniel Nguyen. Freshman Yannick Hanfmann is ranked No. 33 and sophomore Emilio Gomez is ranked No. 48. Sophomore Michael Grant rounds out the group at No. 124.

Last week, the Bears secured a spot in the 2012 ITA National Team Indoor Championships set for Feb. 10-13 at the Boar’s Head Tennis Club in Charlottesville, Va. Cal took a pair of 4-0 wins to advance; one over No. 32 LSU, and one against No. 27 San Diego. Cal will play host to Hawaii and Sacramento State in two more home matches before it heads east for the indoor championships. Please visit CalBears.com for more information.