Pearce secures 4-2 victory for BYU in three-set tiebreak

BYU vs. LMU box score

PROVO, Utah—John Pearce won a thrilling third-set tiebreak Friday afternoon to secure a 4-2 victory over LMU for the BYU men’s tennis team.

Pearce defeated Lukas Moenter 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8) in the third set to win the fourth singles match for BYU.

"LMU came in and competed really well," BYU head coach Brad Pearce said. "I was really impressed with their fight. John had enough desire to ultimately prevail with the match on the line, but it was a roller coaster ride along the way. Having said that, we've got to be ready to go tomorrow against UNLV."

BYU (12-3, 3-0 WCC) dropped the doubles point for just the second time at home this season. The No. 1 doubles team for the Cougars, Pearce and Jacob Sullivan, defeated LMU’s Errol Smith and Joat Farah 6-2. LMU’s No. 2 team, Cristobal Rivera and Charles Boyce, defeated BYU’s Jeremy Bourgeois and Keaton Cullimore 6-2. The Lions’ Luke Bohuslav and Jamie Thorp defeated Andrey Goryachkov and Aidan Carrazedo 6-2 in the No. 3 doubles spot for the doubles point.

Shane Monroe started the singles momentum for the Cougars, defeating Boyce 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles spot. LMU (5-5, 0-2 WCC) took the next point, as Rivera defeated Sullivan 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). Goryachkov and Cullimore both came from behind to win their matches in three sets, giving the 3-2 edge in the match to the Cougars.

Pearce’s win in the No. 5 singles spot gave the Cougars their fourth point of the match and the victory. Bourgeois’s match against Bohuslav was suspended at 5-7, 7-5, 3-5, in favor of LMU’s Bohuslav.

The Cougars will host UNLV tomorrow, Mar. 19, at 2:00 p.m. MDT. The match will be played at the Outdoor Tennis Courts and admission is free to the public. Click here for live stats.