MTEN | Saint Mary's Picks Up Close Win over USF

The Gaels fought until the last set on Saturday to earn a 4-3 win over the Dons.

MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels bounced back from a loss last week to BYU with a 4-3 victory over the Dons to claim their first WCC win of the season.

Doubles play proved to be a nail biter in all three matches as the Gaels scraped out the point in a tiebreaker during the third match. Damon Kesaris and James Watt won their match 7-5 on Court 1 that allowed Daniel Krutik and David Abfalter to claim the point 7-6 on Court 3.

On the singles courts, both teams went back and forth before the Gaels emerged victorious. Watt earned a straight set win in the No. 2 slot to put Saint Mary's back up 2-1 and Abfalter provided another victory on Court 5 with a 6-3, 7-6 (5) decision to put SMC on the brink of closing out the match.

After USF tied the match 3-all, Krutik came through for SMC with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 win to finish off the thrilling contest on a high note. The win was the senior Krutik's fourth of the spring and first in conference play.

RESULTS
Saint Mary's 4, San Francisco 3

DOUBLES
1. Damon Kesaris/James Watt (SMC) def. Oz Daniel/Paul Giraud (USF) 7-5
2. Ryan Marker/Phuc Huynh (USF) def. Abhishek Bastola/Matis Bot (SMC) 7-6 (5)
3. Daniel Krutik/David Abfalter (SMC) def. Nitzan Ricklis/Romeo Jivraj (USF) 7-6 (5)
Order of finish: 1,2,3

SINGLES
1. Ryan Marker (USF) def. Damon Kesaris (SMC) 6-0, retired
2. James Watt (SMC) def. Nitzan Ricklis (USF) 6-1, 6-4
3. Paul Giraud (USF) def. Abhishek Bastola (SMC) 6-3, 7-6(3)
4. Phuc Huynh (USF) def. Matis Bot (SMC) 6-3, 7-5
5. David Abfalter (SMC) def. Oz Daniel (SMC) 6-3, 7-6(5)
6. Daniel Krutik (SMC) def. David Woodland (USF) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
Order of finish: 1,2,4,5,3,6

UP NEXT: CAL
Saint Mary's travels to Berkeley for a rematch with the Golden Bears tomorrow at 2 p.m. More information can be found on the team's schedule page.

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