Claremont, Calif. - The fourth-ranked Pomona-Pitzer Men's Tennis team earned its 20th win of the season by edging No. 16 Gustavus Adolphus 5-4 in the morning, and then earned a 9-0 win over NAIA Westmont in the afternoon to improve to 21-3 on a full Friday at Pauley Tennis Complex.
Junior Jonathan Kim (pictured), and sophomores Jake Yasgoor and Antony Bello each earned singles and doubles win in the Gustavus Adolphus match, as the Gusties fell to 11-7 on the year with the loss. It was the ninth 5-4 win of the year for the Sagehens, including the sixth in the team's current 11-match winning streak.
Pomona-Pitzer took a 2-1 lead after doubles, earning match points seconds apart at No. 2 and No. 3 after the Gusties took the first point at No. 1. Yasgoor held his serve at No. 2, with Kim's volley deciding match point when it was returned long for 8-6. Just 10 seconds later, a service winner from sophomore Spencer Simonides wrapped up an 8-3 win at No. 3, along with Bello.
Singles appeared to be going Pomona-Pitzer's way as well, with Kim earning a quick win at No. 3 (6-3, 6-2), followed by a 6-2, 6-2 from Bello at No. 5 to make the score 4-1. However, Gustavus Adolphus earned straight set wins at No. 6 and No. 4 to close the gap to 4-3, and had some momentum at No. 1 and No. 2, despite being down a set.
Yasgoor, though, came up big for the Sagehens, coming back from 4-1 down in the second set to win four straight games. After an exchange of holds, Yasgoor then earned a break of serve for a 6-2, 7-5 win which sewed up the match. Senior Connor Hudson lost a tough battle at No. 1 (7-6, 5-7, 5-10) for the final point after the Sagehens had clinched the team win.
The nightcap saw little drama as Pomona-Pitzer swept doubles and Westmont ended up forfeiting No. 6 singles after one of its players was forced to withdraw. Senior Kevin Wei earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles to provide the clincher in quick fashion. Bello played his first match at No. 1 and prevailed 6-0, 7-6, while sophomore Graham Maassen, Simonides, and junior Thomas Low took decisions at No. 2-4.
Pomona-Pitzer is back in action tomorrow
