For the first time in program history, the University of San Diego’s men’s tennis team has advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
The 17th-ranked Toreros shut out 20th-ranked UCLA 4-0 Saturday at the Hogan Tennis Center at Alcala Park in their NCAA Regionals. USD (22-5) will play at No. 1-ranked Texas (26-6) starting Friday.
“This is a joyous day,” USD coach Ryan Keckley said. “We had a heck of a region. We did a really good job early against UCLA capturing the momentum. The match Friday against UC Santa Barbara helped us because they punched us and challenged us.
“We went out today and handled the emotions of the moment. It’s what we were dreaming about.”
USD opened Saturday by winning the doubles point for the 23rd time in 27 matches this season. The Toreros’ 34th-ranked tandem of Adrien Berrut and Lambert Ruland and No. 2 doubles team of Oliver Tarvet and Stian Klaassen each won their doubles set.
The 19th-ranked Tarvet defeated 56th-ranked Spencer Johnson in singles, 6-4, 7-5. Klaassen defeated 40th-ranked Emon von Loben Sels 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) in singles. Ruland defeated Aadarsh Tripathi 6-3, 6-2 to complete the sweep.
USD was leading in two of the three unfinished singles matches with the third tied.
“It’s a massive accomplishment for this program,” said Tarvet. “It’s great to do it and do it in such a convincing fashion. I’m sort of speechless about what happened. Winning the doubles point was massive for our confidence.”
UCLA (18-8) defeated USD 4-3 in the season-opening match this season after winning the doubles.
”This is storybook stuff,” said Keckley.
Palomar, Mesa advance
The Palomar College and Mesa College softball teams have advanced to the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regionals.
The top-seeded Comets (39-1) swept Ventura 6-2, 11-1 in their best two-of-three first-round series. Third-seeded Mesa (28-13) won two of three games from Mt. San Jacinto. Meanwhile, Southwestern College (22-18) was eliminated in a pair of shutout losses at Mt. San Antonio.
The sweep extended Palomar’s winning streak to 27 straight games. Pitcher Kiara Flaviana (La Costa Canyon High School) picked up wins in both games to improve to 34-1 on the season. Alexis Huey (Poway High School) had a double, a home run and two RBIs in the second game. Dominique Garcia (El Capitan High School) was 3-for-4 for the two games with a double and four RBIs. Ava Alvarez (Coastal Academy) had two doubles in four at-bats for three RBIs.
Pitcher Olivia Anderson (Santa Fe Christian) picked up two wins for Mesa to improve to 22-7 and added three hits. Shortstop Itzel Soto (Otay Ranch High School) was 5-for-11 for the series with two home runs, a double, three RBIs and six runs scored. Madelyn Egan (Point Loma High School) and Sophia Sanchez (Patrick Henry High School) each had four hits.
Top-seeded Palomar College (36-5) is undefeated at home going into Sunday’s conclusion of the double-elimination, first-round series of the 3C2A state baseball tournament. Grossmont College (26-16) needs to sweep two games at Allan Hancock College to advance. Southwestern and Mesa are also facing elimination.