PROVO -- In front of a packed house, fans got a true taste of collegiate tennis as BYU upset 50th ranked Oregon 6-2 in an exciting, well-fought match.
The match was highlighted by the play of Cougar Nima Roshan who nearly served his way past the 16th ranked singles players in the country. Roshan lost the first set in a tight 7-6 match. He came back to win the second set 8-6, but lost the third set in heartbreaking fashion 7-6.
"As a coach this is what we live for," said head coach Brad Pearce. "When we see people go out and put it out on the line. That's what we work for and that's what happened today."
BYU started off on the right foot winning the doubles point as 2 of the 3 doubles teams won. BYU then jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Cougar James Ludlow neatly defeated Oregon's Thomas Bieri 6-2,7-6.
87th ranked Cougar Jeff Das helped BYU extend their lead to 3-0 as he upset 57th ranked Manuel Kost in two sets 7-6,6-4. But it would be Sophomore Chip Hand who handed the Ducks their second loss of the season. He beat Oregon's Markus Schiller 6-7,6-4,6-3 for the go ahead 4th point.
BYU remains undefeated at home winning all three matches played there so far. Earlier in the year, the Cougars swept both Utah State and Weber State 7-0 apiece at home to kick of the season. On the year BYU is 4-1. The team's only loss was to tennis powerhouse UCLA.
The boys in blue and white head out to Texas to take on 31st ranked Rice on Thursday followed by Friday's match against 16th ranked TCU.
Results: BYU vs. Oregon
SINGLES
1.SWINNERN DEF ROSHAN(BYU) 7-6,6-8,6-7
2.DAS(BYU) DEF. KOST 7-6,6-4
3.LUDLOW(BYU) DEF. BIERI 6-2,7-6
4.HAND(BYU) DEF, SCHILLER 6-7,6-4,6-3
5.KAUFHOLD(BYU) DEF. PINO 6-4,6-4
6.LAPORTE(BYU) DEF 7-6,6-4
DOUBLES
1.LECHUGA/ROSHAN(BYU) DEF BERI/SCHILLER 8-6
2.SPENCER/SWINNEN (OREGON) DEF KAUFHOLD/LUDLOW 6-8
3.LAPORTE/SANCHEZ(BYU) DEF. KOST/PINO 8-5