Claremont, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer men's tennis team is off to a perfect start this season after going 2-0 in their season-opening doubleheader. The Sagehens kicked off with a 9-0 sweep over Irvine Valley College on Saturday morning, followed by a 8-1 win over Occidental College to go 1-0 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Pomona-Pitzer def Irvine Valley College 9-0
The Sagehens started off with a 3-0 sweep in the doubles competition as Sam Malech and Jack Bernstein combined for an 8-3 victory to get the 1-0 lead. Marko Mandic/Josh Gearou and Parth Desai/Michael Poeschla were tested by their opponents, but managed to pull 8-6 victories on their courts.
Over in the singles competition, Mandic made quick work of his opponent, defeating Randal Murphy with a pair of 6-0 sweeps. Transfer Jacob Schoenherr sealed the match with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Alvaro Mantilla. Freshman Jed Kronenberg won his game 6-1, 6-0 and Gearou followed with a pair of 6-1 set wins. Sam Malech beat William Li 6-0, 6-2, and Jack Bernstein closed the match with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Stuart Webb.
Pomona-Pitzer def. Occidental College 8-1
Kalyan Chadalavada and Kronenberg combined in doubles and defeated Isaiah Bird and Cameron Coe 8-1 to get the first point for the Sagehens. Sam Gearou and Avery Bicks combined for an 8-3 win to get the second point for the Hens, but Joey Schwartz and Quinn Hirsohn fell 8-6 as the Tigers were within reach 2-1.
The Sagehens swept the singles matches as Kronenberg maintained his impressive collegiate debut with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Bird. Chadalavada impressed in his singles debut, winning 6-4, 6-3 while Schoenherr easily won his match 6-2, 6-1. Octave Bellet Giacomoni was tested as the No. 2, barely winning his first set 7-5, but triumphed in his second set 6-2. Sam worked to a 6-0, 6-4 win and Hirsohn grinded out a comeback victory, losing the first set 4-6, but coming back with a 6-0 and epic 16-14 set.
Up Next: The Sagehens will host Arizona Christian on Friday, February 9 at 3:30 p.m.
