Los Angeles Calif. (November 5, 2004) Forget the hot California sun, it's BYU men's tennis team that's brining the heat in Los Angeles. Today the Cougars had some great wins and some near wins as they continue turning heads in the Southern California Intercollegiates.
BYU's blue-collar recruit Jeff Das is making some noise this weekend as he upset the tournament's second seed and 34th ranked player in the country, Alberto Francis, in a thrilling three set match. Das was first to strike winning the first set 7-6, Francis came back swinging in second set 2-6, but Das was to much as he beat him 6-2 in the final set.
Das advanced to the quarterfinals but couldn't seem to keep the momentum going as he bowed out to the tournament's sixth seed Arnar Sigurdsson from UOP 6-4,6-3.
"Jeff had a great day and a great tournament," said head coach Brad Pearce. "We knew what we were getting when we recruited him here."
The other remaining singles matches were hard fought as well. Nima Roshan almost sent the tournament's number one seed Luben Pampoulov from UCLA packing as Roshan lost in a very tough two set match 7-6,6-3.
Jose Lechuga would also lose his match but not without giving Pacific's Arnar Sigursson a serious scare. Sigurdsson beat a scrappy Lecugha 4-6,7-6,6-4, and then would later defeat Lechuga's teammate Jeff Das in the quarterfinals.
In doubles, the men would send everybody home that came knocking on their door. BYU's Kaufhold/Ludlow defeated LMU's Berglund/Phillips 8-4, while BYU's highest seeded duo Roshan/Lechuga overwhelmed another LMU duo Cincenas/Wojnarowicz 8-5. Das/Sanchez advanced due to their opponets withdrawal. All three duos advance to the quarterfinals.
Friday's results:
Main Draw-- Round of 16
L. Pampoulov (UCLA) def. Nima Roshan 7-6,6-3
A. Sigurdsson (UOP) def, Jose Lechuga 4-6,7-6,6-4
Jeff Das def. A. Francis (UCLA) 7-6,2-6,6-2
Main Draw--Quarterfinals
A. Sigurdsson def. Jeff Das 6-4,6-3
Doubles--Round of 16
Kaufhold/Ludlow def. Berglund/Phillips (LMU) 8-4
Lechuga/Roshan def. Cicenas/Wojnarowicz (LMU) 8-5
Das/Sanchez def. Gruendler/Lam (UCLA) (inj)