PROVO, Utah (January 27, 2005) In their second of a three-match California road trip the Cougars overcome 73rd ranked UC Irvine 5-2.
After losing a tough match the day before to 2nd ranked UCLA, the men in blue and white came out swinging against UC Irvine. When the smoke cleared the Cougars had posted their third win of the season led by junior Nima Roshan.
Roshan, playing the 2 singles for the Cougars, stared the match off sizzling as he won the first match 6-2, in the second set he outlasted Irvine's Kashiwabara to take a good fought match 7-5. James Ludlow also continues his great spring season as cruised past Olof Sjolund 6-4,6-1 at the 4 singles spot.
"Our guys played some pretty good matches today," said head coach Brad Pearce. "It was satisfying to come in here a get a win, the team made it happen today."
BYU freshman Shane LaPorte and Jonathan Sanchez came up big for the Cougars in the 5th and 6th spots. LaPorte beat Irvine's Peter Surapol 6-1,6-4 while Sanchez easily handled Aaron Ellis 6-1,6-3.
The Cougars end the last leg of the California tour with a stop tomorrow at Cougar Jeff Das' former school. Jeff Das played his freshman year at the University of San Diego before transferring to BYU.
Results of BYU vs. UC Irvine
SINGLES
1.Brian Morton def. Jeff Das 6-3, 7-6(5)
2.Nima Roshan (BYU) def. Rye Kashiwabara 6-2,7-5
3.Victor Lamm def. Chip Hand (BYU) 1-6,6-3,6-3
4.James Ludlow (BYU) def. Olof Sjolund 6-4,6-1
5.Shane LaPorte (BYU) def. Peter Surapol 6-1,6-4
6.Jonathan Sanchez (BYU) def. Aaron Ellis 6-1,6-3
DOUBLES
1.Morton/Kashiwabara def. Lechuga/Roshan (BYU) 8-6
2.Kaufhold/Ludlow (BYU) def. Ellis/Lamm 9-7
3.LaPorte/Sanchez (BYU) def. Surapol/Ulukan 8-6