Spring Break Trip Opens With 8-1 Loss To Middlebury
Box Score
CLAREMONT, Calif. –
Giancarlo Battaglia (So., Sherman, Oaks, Calif.) picked up Pacific's only victory of the day at No. 1 singles Monday as the Boxers opened up their three-match Southern California trip with an 8-1 neutral site loss to Middlebury in men's tennis action at Pomona-Pitzer's courts.
Battaglia improved to 10-2 on the season and 2-0 since assuming the No. 1 spot in the singles lineup, taking a 6-4, 6-3 win from Alec Parower.
Despite the loss, Pacific Director of Tennis
Brian Jackson said he was pleased with the play of the entire squad. “We played a very good team today and fought really well,” he said. “These guys were just more consistently strong today. We proved that we belonged on the court, but definitely saw where we need to improve.”
The Boxers (5-8) opened the after with two hard fought losses in the top doubles flights. Battaglia and
Troy Zuroske (Jr., Richland, Wash.) fell 8-5 to Alex Johnston and Spencer Lunghino, while
Alen Suklje (So., Beaverton, Ore.) and
Kolin Wong (Sr., Captain Cook, Hawaii) dropped an 8-4 decision to Palmer Campbell and Brantner Jones. In the No. 3 match, Andrew Lebovitz and Teddy Fitzgibbons cruised to an 8-1 win over
Lorne Bulling (Fr., Corvallis, Ore.) and
Brian Kyaw (Fr., South San Francisco, Calif.).
After Battaglia's match, all of the decisions in singles also went the way of the Panthers (7-0) of Middlebury, Vt. Zuroske took a hard fought 6-4. 6-4 loss to Courtney Montifield at No. 2 while
Brandon Schlack (So., Long Beach, Calif.) fell 6-0, 6-1 to Ari Smolyar at No. 3. Suklje dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to Jackson Frons at No, 4, Bulling dropped a 6-1, 6-2 match to Allen Jackson at No. 5 and Wong fell 6-3, 6-2 to James Burke at No. 6.
Pacific will continue its SoCal swing on Tuesday as they play Caltech. The match is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
