March 1, 2012

Results

LA JOLLA, Calif. - LMU fell to No. 51 Rice University, 6-1, Thursday at a neutral site match at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. The Lions were swept in doubles, but saw its #1 Nicholas Bjerke gain a victory in singles. The loss snapped a three-match winning streak for LMU.

"It was a very frustrating match result," said head coach Brad Sceney. When describing the team's play, Sceney said, "there is certainly no shortage of chances, we just have to do a better job of converting. When we play quality opposition, there's only so many chances you have before it will come back to bite you."

The junior from Oslo, Norway, Bjerke, defeated Rice's #1 Harry Fowler, 6-0, 7-5 for LMU's only win in singles. The victory was Bjerke's third straight singles win; the prior two on court two. "Nicholas continued his great form," Sceney mentioned. Sceney continued, "he has been very steady at 2 for us so far, but fantastic for him to step up and play in the 1 spot."

Lions' Alex Wilton and Sebastian Bustamante each won their first sets 7-6, but were unable to gain an additional set to win their matches. Wilton lost to Sam Garforth-Bles, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. Bustamante was defeated by Chang, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Felix Van Kann also won his first set, but fell, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 to Nusslein. Saravia defeated Todd Volmari, 6-1, 6-2. Tom Price lost to Philipp Seifert, 7-6, 6-4.

In doubles, Volmari and Simko fell to Saravia and Fowler, 8-4. Nuesslin and Chanf defeated Bjerke and Bustmante, 8-5. Wilton and Van Kann were unable to put away Garforth-Bles and Berger and lost, 8-6. Sceney described the doubles performance as "poor." The head coach stated, "our movement is not there. We wait for things to happen for us on the court, it will never work that way. At this level, you have to make it happen."

The Lions are in action this week at the Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Championships in La Jolla, Calif. March 2 through March 4. The next team match for LMU will be Sunday, March 11, as the Lions will face Boston University and Montana State in a doubleheader at the LMU Tennis Center. The match versus Boston University will commence at 9:30 a.m. and the doubleheader will conclude with Montana State beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Singles competition

1. Nicholas Bjerke (LMU) def. Harry Fowler (RICE) 6-0, 7-5

2. Sam Garforth-Bles (RICE) def. Alex Wilton (LMU) 6-7, 6-4, 6-4

3. Jonathan Chang (RICE) def. Sebastian Bustamante (LMU) 6-7, 6-4, 6-3

4. Christian Saravia (RICE) def. Todd Volmari (LMU) 6-1, 6-2

5. Michael Nuesslein (RICE) def. Felix Van Kann (LMU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6

6. Philipp Seifert (RICE) def. Tom Price (LMU) 7-6, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Christian Saravia/Harry Fowler (RICE) def. Todd Volmari/Daniel Simko (LMU) 8-4

2. Michael Nuesslein/Jonathan Chang (RICE) def. Nicholas Bjerke/Sebastian Bustamante (LMU) 8-5

3. Sam Garforth-Bles/Leif Berger (RICE) def. Alex Wilton/Felix van Kann (LMU) 8-6

-GO LIONS-