April 7, 2003
Moraga, CA- The Saint Mary's men's tennis team defeated the visiting Santa Clara Broncos by a final score of 4-3 on Monday evening at the Timothy Korth Tennis Complex. Despite losing the doubles point in three close matches, the Gaels stormed back to capture four-of-six singles matches to secure a team victory over their WCC rivals. With the win the Gaels improve to 7-14 on the season, while the Broncos fall to 7-13 overall on the season.
In doubles action, the Gaels played all three matches closely before falling to the Broncos in each. At the #2 doubles position, the Gaels tandem of J.J. Whitlinger and senior Thomas Burgemeister had one of the closest matches before they were defeated by Santa Clara's Rick Ruso and Francisco Zapponi by a final score of 8-6. Saint Mary's own French connection of freshmen Andre Sion and Martin Marechal also played valiantly before falling to the Bronco's pair of Taylor Bedilion and Frederico Mattioli 8-6 at the #3 doubles position.
In singles action, Saint Mary's came back after losing the doubles point and ended up winning four-of-six singles matches from Santa Clara to take the victory. Freshman Martin Marechal got things started for the Gaels as he defeated the Bronco's #4 singles player, Frederico Mattioli, in the only straight-sets singles match of the day, 6-1, 7-5. Still battling a serious shoulder injury, Rafael Lopez played hard against Santa Clara's #3 singles player, Taylor Bedilion, before falling in three sets by a final score of 6-2, 0-6, 6-2.
With the Gaels down 2-1 and only four matches left, Filip Sarovic came up big for Saint Mary's as he defeated the Bronco's Mike Bruggemann in a hotly contested match at the #6 singles position by a final score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 to even the match. Santa Clara's #1 singles player, Erich Chen, then put the Broncos back in the lead when he narrowly defeated the Gaels' 2002 All-WCC Honorable Mention honoree, Thomas Burgemeister, in a three set battle by a final score of 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3. However, the Gaels would not lose another match the rest of the day as both Romain Lachens and Andre Sion picked up huge wins over their respective opponents.
First, Lachens exhibited extreme toughness as he outlasted and ultimately defeated the Bronco's Francisco Zepponi at the #2 singles position by a final score of 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1. Finally, the Gaels clinched the match when freshman Andre Sion played consistently as he defeated Santa Clara's Ben Hidalgo in a three set marathon match at the #5 singles position by a final score of 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 6-0.
Saint Mary's will return to the courts with an added confidence as they prepare to participate at the WCC Championships from Friday to Sunday, April 11-13 in San Diego, CA.
Saint Mary's 4 Santa Clara 3
Singles #1 Erich Chen (SCU) d. Thomas Burgemeister (SMC) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 #2 Romain Lachens (SMC) d. Francisco Zepponi (SCU) 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1 #3 Taylor Bedilion (SCU) d. Rafael Lopez (SMC) 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 #4 Martin Marechal (SMC) d. Frederico Mattioli (SCU) 6-1, 7-5 #5 Andre Sion (SMC) d. Ben Hidalgo (SCU) 7-6 (4), 6-7 (2), 6-0 #6 Filip Sarovic (SMC) d. Mike Bruggemann (SCU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles #1 Chen/Bruggemann (SCU) d. Lachens/Lopez (SMC) 8-5 #2 Ruso/Zepponi (SCU) d. Whitlinger/Burgemeister (SMC) 8-6 #3 Bedilion/Mattioli (SCU) Sion/Marechal (SMC) 8-6
