Cougars sweep Gaels, improve to 2-0 in WCC play

PROVO, Utah — BYU men's tennis swept Saint Mary's, 4-0, at the Indoor Tennis Courts on Friday, improving to 2-0 in West Coast Conference play. It was the Cougars' third sweep of the season. 

"It was a good win today," said BYU head coach Dave Porter. "Saint Mary's is a good team, they had a tight match with Utah State yesterday. We were pleased with the way we came out in doubles, and then after playing really good singles in the first set, we had a couple of close ones, but they just turned it around and came through in the third sets. It was absolutely wonderful tennis today, so we're excited, and we'll be ready for Montana State on Monday."

The Gaels opened the match with a win at No. 2 doubles as Damon Kesaris and Fabian Roensdorf defeated Mateo Vereau Melendez Matheus Ferreira Leite, 6-2. With both remaining doubles matches locked up a 4-apiece, the Cougars took commanding 5-4 leads on both courts. At No. 3 doubles, Sean Hill and Sam Tullis beat Matis Bot/Caelan Potts, 6-4. Ben Gajardo and Jack Barnett then took down No. 55 James Watt and Boris Reckow at No.1 doubles, 7-5, to earn the doubles point for BYU. 

The Gaels opened the match with a win at No. 2 doubles as Damon Kesaris and Fabian Roensdorf defeated Mateo Vereau Melendez Matheus Ferreira Leite, 6-2. With both remaining doubles matches locked up a 4-apiece, the Cougars took commanding 5-4 leads on both courts.

At No. 3 doubles, Sean Hill and Sam Tullis beat Matis Bot/Caelan Potts, 6-4. Ben Gajardo and Jack Barnett then took down No. 55 James Watt and Boris Reckow at No.1 doubles, 7-5, to earn the doubles point for BYU.  

Hill quickly put the Cougars up 2-0 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 1 singles over Damon Kesaris. After taking the first set at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, BYU dropped both second sets, but prevailed in the third to get the win. 

In the No. 2 slot, Barnett beat Watt 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. Shortly after, Gajardo finished Fabian Roensdorf, 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, for the Cougars’ fourth needed point to earn the win.

BYU will remain at home for a matchup with Montana State on Monday, March 29 at 9:30 a.m. MDT at the Indoor Tennis Courts.

MATCH RESULTS

BYU 4 SMC 0

Doubles Competition

1. Ben Gajardo/Jack Barnett (BYU) def. No. 55 James Watt/Boris Reckow (SMC), 7-5

2. Damon Kesaris/Fabian Roensdorf (SMC) def. Mateo Vereau Melendez/Matheus Ferreira Leite (BYU), 6-2 

3. Sean Hill/Sam Tullis (BYU) def. Matis Bot/Caelan Potts (SMC), 6-4

Order of finish: (2, 3, 1)

Singles Competition

1. Sean Hill (BYU) def. Damon Kesaris (SMC), 6-1, 6-2

2. Jack Barnett (BYU) def. James Watt (SMC), 6-4, 4-6, 6-0

3. Ben Gajardo (BYU) def. Fabian Roensdorf (SMC), 6-3, 2-6, 6-0

4. Sam Tullis (BYU) vs. Matis Bot (SMC), 4-6, 6-4, 2-1, uf.

5. Mateo Vereau Melendez (BYU) vs. Boris Reckow (SMC), 6-0, 1-0, uf.

6. Matheus Ferreira Leite (BYU) vs. Caelan Potts (SMC), uf.

Order of finish: (1, 2, 3)