SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The No. 43 University of Oregon men’s tennis team defeated the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 4-3 Thursday afternoon in Santa Barbara, Calif. Oregon advances to 16-4 overall on the season, while the Gauchos fall to 8-10.

 

The Ducks lost the doubles point as the Gauchos took victories on all three courts. Robin Cambier and Jeff Mullen fell to Ndimande and Sultan 8-7 in the top spot, Boullin and Recknagel took down Aaron Clissold and Daniel Sardu 8-4 on Court 2. On Court 3, Seemann and Riminton defeated Alex Rovello and Daan Maasland 8-2.

 

“We were a no-show in doubles today,” said head coach Nils Schyllander. “For whatever reason, we did not play with the our trademark intensity. When we got down, a little bit on panic started to set and that momentum carried over to singles where we buried ourselves a really big hole. The guys went back to the court and turned the energy switch on and switch the momentum. This group of young men showed tons of heart and we just fought our way to the end.”

 

The Gauchos took a couple of victories in the top two spots as Ndimande topped Cambier 6-3, 6-3 on Court 1, and Recknagel defeated Mullen 7-6(5), 3-6, 5-7 on Court 2. Oregon controlled the rest of the courts, however as Alex Rovello, Daan Maasland, Daniel Sardu and Lova Randriamampandry recorded victories on Courts 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. Rovello beat Boullin 6-2, 6-3, while his doubles partner Maasland handled Sultan 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, clinching his second match in a row. Sardu battled back from a big deficit to give the Ducks a much needed point as he beat Riminton 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Randriamampandry rounded it out for Oregon, defeating Jacob Johnson 3-6, 7-5, 3-0(ret.).

 

“I think Daniel Sardu showed the heart of a lion today. he was down 6-2, 4-1 deep in the match and he found a way to put a point on the board for the Ducks that ended up being the difference in the match.”

 

Oregon returns to action on Friday as it travels to Los Angeles to take on the No. 4 USC Trojans at 1:30 p.m. A full recap with statistics will be available on www.goducks.com after the match.

 

OREGON 4, UCSB 3

 

DOUBLES

 

1. Cambier/Mullen def. Ndimande/Sultan 8-7

2. Bouillin/Recknagel def. Clissold/Sardu 8-4

3. Seemann/Riminton def. Rovello/Maasland 8-2

 

SINGLES

 

1. Ndimande def. Cambier 6-3, 6-3

2. Recknagel def. Mullen 7-6(5), 3-6, 5-7

3. Rovello def. Boullin 6-1, 6-3

4. Maasland def. Sultan 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3

5. Sardu def. Riminton 2-6, 6-4, 6-2

6. Randriamampandry def. Jacob Johnson 3-6, 7-5, 3-0(ret.)