March 15, 2009

San Diego, Calif. - The No. 69 Pacific men's tennis team continued to make their mark against high ranked opponents, handing No. 56 Utah a 5-2 defeat on Sunday, Mar. 15.

With the win, Pacific moved to 6-3 on the season, while Utah fell to 8-5 overall.

Pacific started the match against Utah by quickly taking the doubles point. Tiger sophomore Artem Gramma (Krivoj Roj, Ukraine) and freshman Ryan Kim (Elk Grove, Calif.) battled Utah's Timmy Allin and John Taylor in the No. 2 position and secured the match point for the Tigers. 

The Tigers easily took the match against No. 55 Utah behind victories in the No. 3 position and No. 2 position. Pacific freshman Christian Kuehne (Morbach, Germany) clinched the overall victory for the Tigers as he defeated Utah's Jason Smits in the No. 6 position, 6-3, 6-2. The singles win put the overall match at 4-0. 

The last point for the Tigers came from the No. 1 position as Pacific senior Moritz Starke (Bamberg, Germany) defeated Utah's Phillip Eilers, 6-4, 6-3. Starke's victory set the match at 5-0.

Pacific returns to action on Tuesday, Mar. 17 as the Tigers face Yale in a neutral court battle in San Diego, Calif. at 11:00 a.m.

Men's Tennis Results
No. 69 Pacific 5, No. 56 Utah 2
San Diego, Calif.

Doubles: (Pacific wins doubles point, 2-1)
1. Phillip Eilers / Wes Hancock (UTAH) def. No. 72 Moritz Starke / Renan Delsin (PAC): 9-8 (4)
2. Artem Gramma / Ryan Kim (PAC) def. Timmy Allin / John Taylor (UTAH): 8-4
3. Christian Kuehne / Karl-Erik Paaro (PAC) def. Stephen Jacobs / Benito Suriano (UTAH): 8-1

Order of Finish
3, 2, 1

Singles:
1. Moritz Starke (PAC) def. Phillip Eilers (UTAH): 6-4, 6-3
2. Artem Gramma (PAC) def. Wes Hancock (UTAH): 6-2, 6-1
3. Renan Delsin (PAC) def. Othman Zerouali-Ouariti (UTAH): 6-2, 6-1
4. John Taylor (UTAH) def. Vegerd Veskimagi (PAC): 7-6 (5), 3-6, 1-0 (12)
5. Timmy Allin (UTAH) def. Karl-Erik Paaro (PAC): 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (7)
6. Christian Kuehne (PAC) def. Jason Smits (UTAH): 6-3, 6-2

Order of Finish
3, 2, 6, 1, 5, 4