Box Score

The LMU men's tennis team (0-1) took PCH-Cup rival Pepperdine (1-2) down to the wire, with the match hinging on the singles decision at court four, but the Lions came up just short of scoring the upset on Friday afternoon from the LMU Tennis Center. The match, which served as the season-opener for the Lions, was a West Coast Conference match and handed Pepperdine a 1.5 point swing in the Wells Fargo PCH Cup standings.

After Pepperdine earned the doubles point by way of victories on the top two courts, including a 6-1 victory for #14 Hadlich/Sidney, LMU had its work cut out for itself in singles play. The Lions certainly answered the call, winning three of the first four singles contests to take a 3-2 lead with two courts left to be decided.

2015 WCC Freshman of the Year Errol Smith, playing at #3 singles, was first off the court, defeating Pedro Iamachkine, 6-3, 6-2, before sophomore Joat Farah topped Gabriel Sidney, 6-3, 6-2 to hand LMU the lead.

A straight-set victory for Pepperdine's top player, Guilherme Hadlich, over Charles Boyce brought the Waves back even at 2-2, but senior Cristobal Rivera outlasted Stefan Menichella on court two, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, to push the Lions within a win of a team victory.

Luke Bohuslav found himself already down a set, and behind 6-5 in the second on court five, but the native of Orinda, Calif. rallied to draw even at 6-6 to force a tiebreaker. Looking to push his opponent, Jack Van Slyke, to three sets, Bohuslav could not take the tiebreaker, eventually falling 7-4 and turning all eyes to the decisive fourth court.

Freshman Lukas Moenter was busy there battling Lautaro Pane in a hard-fought third set after splitting the first two. The Lion, who hails from Germany, took the opener, 6-4, but dropped the second 6-3. Now knotted at 3-3 in the third, Moenter could not get the momentum moving in the direction of LMU, eventually falling 6-3 as Pepperdine escaped the venue with the victory.

LMU will have little time to think about the setback, returning to play tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against #6 USC on the road.

Pepperdine vs LMU (Feb 05, 2016)
#43 Pepperdine 4, LMU 3
Feb 05, 2016 at Los Angeles, Calif. (LMU Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Guilherme Hadlich (PEP) def. Charles Boyce (LMU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Cristobal Rivera (LMU) def. Stefan Menichella (PEP) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. Errol Smith (LMU) def. Pedro Iamachkine (PEP) 6-3, 6-2
4. Lautaro Pane (PEP) def. Lukas Moenter (LMU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
5. Jack Van Slyke (PEP) def. Luke Bohuslav (LMU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Joat Farah (LMU) def. Gabriel Sidney (PEP) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #19 Guilherme Hadlich/Gabriel Sidney (PEP) def. Charles Boyce/Cristobal Rivera (LMU) 6-1
2. Lautaro Pane/Pedro Iamachkine (PEP) def. Joat Farah/Errol Smith (LMU) 6-3
3. Luke Bohuslav/Lukas Moenter (LMU) vs. Tom Hill/Jack Van Slyke (PEP) 5-2, unfinished

Match Notes
Pepperdine 1-2; National ranking #43
LMU 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,6,1,2,5,4)