NEW YORK CITY – The BYU men’s tennis team topped Fordham 6-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center. The Cougars (3-0) defeated the Rams (4-1) for the first time in the school’s history.

"Everybody was excited about playing today and everyone played really well," head coach Brad Pearce said. "Our guys were exhaused from traveling but they paid the price on Friday to practice for and prepare for the match. I think that's a big reason why we won today."

BYU saw the first two doubles teams switched again and both came away with a win. The first duo to finish, junior Patrick Kawka and sophomore Francis Sargeant, beat Alex DeRienzo and Jan Krouham 8-1.

Next, senior Spencer Smith and junior Travis Fillmore topped Srikar Alla and Max Peara 8-3. Sophomore Keaton Cullimore and freshman John Pearce also won their match against Peder Gram and JJ Tauil 8-4.

In singles play, BYU won five out of six. On court 1, Smith fought hard but narrowly lost to Alla, 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 10-6.

Kawka quickly dismissed Gram 6-0, 6-2 at the No. 2 position. Cullimore clinched a victory over Peara 6-2, 6-3. Sareant also beat his opponent Tauil, 6-3, 6-2.

Freshmen Pearce and Andrey Goryachkov rounded out the match with victories of their own, 6-3, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-3 respectively.

BYU will stay in New York to face No. 44 Columbia on Monday at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center at 11 a.m. EST.

Doubles

1. Fillmore/Smith (BYU) def. Alla/Peara (FU) 8-3

2. Kawka/Sargeant (BYU) def. DeRienzo/Krouham (FU) 8-1

3. Cullimore/Pearce (BYU) def. Gram/Tauil (FU) 8-4

Order of finish: 2, 1, 3 

Singles

1. Srikar Alla (FU) def. Spencer Smith (BYU) 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 10-6

2. Patrick Kawka (BYU) def. Peder Gram (FU) 6-0, 6-2

3. Keaton Culllimore (BYU) def. Max Peara (FU) 6-2, 6-3 

4. Francis Sargeant (BYU) def. JJ Tauil (FU) 6-3, 6-2

5. John Pearce (BYU) def. Jan Krouham (FU) 6-3, 6-1

6. Andrey Goryachkov (BYU) def. Alex DeRienzo (FU) 6-1, 6-3

Order of finish: 2, 6, 4, 3, 5, 1

PROVO, Utah – After winning its first two home matches, the No. 58 BYU men’s tennis team will play its first road matches of the year as it competes against Fordham and No. 44 Columbia at the Dick Savitt Tennis Center in New York City.

The Cougars (2-0) will face Fordham (4-0) on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST and Columbia on Monday at 11 a.m. EST.

“We have a great opportunity to play Columbia, who is a very solid team,” head coach Brad Pearce said. “Fordham is a good up and coming team who should also pose a great challenge to our team.”

Both Cougar opponents have a top nationally ranked player. Columbia’s Winston Lin is currently ranked No. 44 in the country in singles play. Fordham has the No. 110 Kuba Kowalski on their roster.

BYU is 4-1 all-time against other Ivy League teams although it has never faced Columbia.  This will also be the first time BYU and Fordham have played each other in the schools’ histories.

BYU alternated the No. 1 singles position last week against Utah State and Weber State between senior Spencer Smith and junior Patrick Kawka. The two are a combined 14-3 on the year, including 4-0 in dual matches.

The team travels to California next week for the ITA Kickoff Weekend.