PROVO, Utah – West Coast Conference play began for BYU men’s tennis Saturday, with the Cougars defeating Saint Mary’s 4-0 at home. Despite losing at No. 3 doubles, BYU responded with two wins elsewhere to take the doubles point, adding three straight-set singles victories to win the dual match.
The Cougars (3-3, 1-0 WCC) had doubles wins from Zach Fuchs and Brigham Andrus (No. 1) and Jack Barnett and Mateo Vereau (No. 2). Singles results came from Jack Barnett (No. 2), Zach Fuchs (No. 3) and Dominik Jakovljevic (No. 4), with the remaining going unfinished.
“I am very happy with today's win,” said BYU head coach Dave Porter. “Saint Mary's has a strong team, especially at the top. We're grateful to start conference play with a win and are looking forward to getting a little bit of rest before preparing for Boise State next weekend. Thanks to the fans that came, they make a big difference and we appreciate their help.”
Doubles
- Zach Fuchs/Brigham Andrus (BYU) def. James Watt/Thibaud Maxant (SMC) 7-5
- Jack Barnett/Mateo Vereau (BYU) def. Caelan Potts/Diego Jarry (SMC) 7-5
- Mathis Moysan/Carlos Ramos (SMC) def. Wally Thayne/Redd Owen (BYU) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
The Gaels started the match on the front foot at No. 3 doubles, picking up a 6-2 victory. The first break BYU gave up came on deuce point, with the second sealing the match on a shot that just barely got over the top of Thayne.
BYU evened the doubles score at No. 2, where Barnett and Vereau eventually outlasted the Saint Mary’s side. The Cougars had a match point up 5-3 and serving but Potts and Jarry won the deuce point to extend the match and later reach a 5-5 tie.
Vereau proceeded to hold his serve to take a 6-5 lead, with he and Barnett then looking for the match win after going up 40-0 while receiving. Once again Potts and Jarry made the set close by forcing a deuce point but Barnett landed the next point just inside the back corner to give BYU the 7-5 match win.
No. 1 doubles was just as close, with both teams holding their serve to a 6-5 scoreline in favor of BYU. The Cougars then had three match points to work with as receivers in the next game after Fuchs powered a shot through the middle of Watt and Maxant. A backhand winner from Andrus subsequently sealed the match at 7-5 and gave BYU the doubles point.
Singles
- Wally Thayne (BYU) vs. James Watt (SMC) 6-4, 3-6, 3-5, unf.
- Jack Barnett (BYU) def. Mathis Moysan (SMC) 6-1, 6-2
- Zach Fuchs (BYU) def. Diego Jarry (SMC) 7-6 (4), 6-3
- Dominik Jakovljevic (BYU) def. Caelan Potts (SMC) 6-4, 6-2
- Redd Owen (BYU) vs. Carlos Ramos (SMC) 2-4, unf.
- Brigham Andrus (BYU) vs. Thibaud Maxant (SMC) 0-0, unf.
Order of finish: 2, 4, 3
Barnett returned to BYU’s singles lineup after sitting out Friday and did not miss a beat at the No. 2 spot. An early break on deuce point set the tone for the match, with Barnett adding another break to go up 5-1 in the first set. He sealed the set with an ace, securing a quick 6-1 victory.
The second set also started off with a break by Barnett, but Moysan responded with one of his own for a 1-1 tie. Barnett would open up another big lead, however, adding two more breaks and holding his serve on deuce point to go in front 5-1. He later won the set with an ace, just like he did in the first, to take set two 6-2.
Jakovljevic won his third-straight singles match, with all three coming from different places in the lineup. Today he was in the No. 4 spot, where he faced a 4-4 tie in set one after both players won two games while receiving. Jakovljevic added a third break on a deuce point with a shot that was too close to Potts’ hands to be returned and then held his serve in the next game to take set one 6-4.
The second set saw Jakovljevic open up a comfortable lead, taking two breaks on deuce points to lead 4-0. From there he kept Potts at bay to keep his four-game lead and win 6-2.
Like Barnett, Fuchs won in straight sets, with both sets being sealed by an ace. The first set went to a tiebreaker after neither player could find an advantage receiving, but Fuchs quickly gained momentum there with a 3-0 lead. While Jarry later survived two set points, Fuchs landed an ace for a 7-6 (4) set one win. Fuchs made sure the second set was not as close, taking a 5-3 lead after a strong forehand return down the line off Jarry’s serve. He then served for the match and ultimately landed another ace, winning set two 6-3.
Fuchs’ victory secured the dual match, with the remaining matches then going unfinished. Thayne was locked in a three-set battle at No. 1 singles at the time. He took the first set 6-4 and lost the second 3-6. While he was trailing 3-5 in the third, Thayne was about to hold his serve when the match ended.
No. 5 singles ended with Owen trailing 2-4 in the first set. No. 6 singles between Andrus and Maxant never got underway.
The Cougars now embark on an eight-match road trip, with six nonconference games scheduled before returning to WCC play. The team’s next match is Saturday, Feb. 25, at Boise State.