Cougars beat Bulldogs, go 2-0 on road trip

SPOKANE, Wash. — BYU men's tennis beat Gonzaga 4-2 at the Stevens Tennis Center on Saturday, going 2-0 on the Pacific Northwest road trip and improving to 4-0 in West Coast Conference play.

"It was a good win in a tough environment," said BYU head coach Dave Porter. "They [Gonzaga] have a beautiful facility, but very intense group. We came out and started very well—played good doubles. We played well at the beginning in the first sets of the singles and then tightened up just a little bit, but played well enough to pull it out. It's a good win and a good weekend. We're excited to be on our way and looking forward to playing San Diego this week in Provo."

The Cougars got things going with two quick doubles wins to earn the doubles point. At No. 2 doubles, Sean Hill and Sam Tullis beat Sasha Trkulja and Leon Roider, 6-3. Mateo Vereau Melendez and Brigham Andrus followed with a 6-4 victory at No. 3 doubles over Matthew Perkins and Matthew Hollingworth. 

Gonzaga took the lead after winning singles matches at both the No. 4 and No. 2 spots. Oliver Andersson defeated Tullis, 7-6 (1), 6-2 at No. 4 singles, and Trkulja took down Jack Barnett at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-4. 

BYU then won the next three matches to clinch the match. At the No. 6 spot, Matheus Ferreira Leite beat Theo McDonald, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Melendez followed with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) win at the No. 5 spot over Pablo Gomez Galvan and Ben Gajardo shut the door, beating Leon Roider, 6-3, 7-6 (4) at No. 3 singles to clinch fourth point needed to win the match.

The Cougars will return home to face San Diego on Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m. MDT. Live stats will be available and presuming the match is played indoors, a live video stream will be also available.

MATCH RESULTS

BYU 4 GU 2

Doubles Competition

1. Jack Barnett/Ben Gajardo (BYU) vs. Theo McDonald/Oliver Andersson (GU), 5-4, uf.

2. Sean Hill/Sam Tullis (BYU) def. Sasha Trkulja/Leon Roider (GU), 6-3

3. Mateo Vereau Melendez/Brigham Andrus (BYU) def. Matthew Perkins/Matthew Hollingworth (GU), 6-4

Order of finish: (2, 3)

Singles Competition

1. Sean Hill (BYU) vs. Matthew Hollingworth (GU), 6-7 (5), 6-3, 1-2, uf.

2. Sasha Trkulja (GU) def. Jack Barnett (BYU), 6-2, 6-4

3. Ben Gajardo (BYU) def. Leon Roider (GU), 6-3, 7-6 (4)

4. Oliver Andersson (GU) def. Sam Tullis (BYU), 7-6 (1), 6-2

5. Mateo Vereau Melendez (BYU) def. Pablo Gomez Galvan (GU), 6-3, 7-6 (2)

6. Matheus Ferreria Leite (BYU) def. Theo McDonald (GU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-1

Order of finish: (4, 2, 6, 5, 3)