Photo: Kelly Young

The Occidental Men's Tennis Team battled out two hard fought victories on Monday in a President's Day doubleheader. To start out the day, the 36^th ranked Tigers went up against regional counterpart 39^th ranked UC Santa Cruz in an early season showdown of nationally ranked Division III teams. The Tigers pulled out a 5-4 win led by two big wins from senior Matt O'Connor. 

The Tigers got on the board first in the doubles with a win at number three doubles from first-year Isaac Herrenkohl and sophomore Ridley Potter 8-5. After Santa Cruz took the match at number two doubles 8-5, O'Connor and senior Seth Lipe gave the Tigers a 2-1 edge heading into singles play when they won 8-5 at number one doubles. 

In singles, sophomore Michael Abagyan was first off the court with a convincing 6-3,6-1 win at number five singles to extend the Tiger lead to 3-1. First-year Ace Andres followed suit with a 6-3,6-3 win at number four singles pulling the Tigers to within one point of clinching the match. O'Connor sealed the win for the Tigers when he won 6-3,6-3 at number one singles. UC Santa Cruz won the remaining three singles matches at the number two, three, and six positions to bring the final score to 5-4 in favor of the Tigers. Sophomore Ronald Chen battled hard at number two singles before eventually losing in a third set super-tiebreaker 3-6,6-4,14-12. 

In the afternoon portion of the doubleheader, the Tigers went up against NAIA Westmont College. Coming off the hard-fought win against UC Santa Cruz, the Tigers showed no signs of slowing down as they took down the Warriors 8-1. 

Oxy came out of the gates hot as they took all three doubles matches to gain a 3-0 advantage heading into singles play. Senior Zach Haas and first-year Mason Hart got the win at number three doubles 8-4, Lipe and O'Connor proved rock solid once again at number one doubles winning 8-5, and Potter and Herrenkohl pulled out a tough 8-6 win at number two doubles. 

In singles play, the Tigers left no doubt as they took five of the six singles matches for the 8-1 victory. Chen played tough in the number one position defeating Westmont's Logan Thompson 6-2,6-3, Andres won at the number two position 7-5,7-6, and first-year Quentin Kemna steamrolled his way to a 6-0,6-1 win at number six singles. Senior Zach Haas was clutch in his match at number three singles winning 6-4,3-6,12-10 while Ridley Potter had a solid comeback win at number five singles 2-6,6-1,6-2. 

The Tigers will next play Hope International University at home this Friday February 24^th. 

Occidental College 5 vs. UC Santa Cruz 4 

February 20, 2023

Doubles

1. Seth Lipe/Matt O'Connor (Oxy) def. Lucas Chen/Andrew Tjoa (UCSC) 8-5
2. Andre Mardirossian/Ryan Lam (UCSC) def. Ace Andres/Ronald Chen (Oxy) 8-5
3. Ridley Potter/Isaac Herrenkohl (Oxy) def. Abdulaziz Albayouk/Adam Hidas (UCSC) 8-5

Singles 

1. Matt O'Connor (Oxy) def. Lucas Chen (UCSC) 6-3,6-3
2. Andre Mardirossian (UCSC) def. Ronald Chen (Oxy) 3-6,6-4,14-12
3. Praneet Varade (UCSC) def. Sam Coan (Oxy) 7-5,6-3
4. Ace Andres (Oxy) def. Andrew Tjoa (UCSC) 6-3,6-3
5. Michael Abagyan (Oxy) def. Ryan Lam (UCSC) 6-3,6-1
6. Abdulaziz Albayouk (UCSC) def. Isaac Herrenkohl (Oxy) 1-6,6-1,6-2 

Occidental College 8 vs. Westmont College 1

February 20, 2023

Doubles

1. Seth Lipe/Matt O'Connor (Oxy) def. Logan Thompson/Ethan Ha (WC) 8-5
2. Ridley Potter/Isaac Herrenkohl (Oxy) def. Cody Ray Emery/Santiago Ramon (WC) 8-6
3. Zach Haas/Mason Hart (Oxy) def. Owen Vander Ark/Benny Saito (WC) 8-4

Singles 

1. Ronald Chen (Oxy) def. Logan Thompson (WC) 6-2,6-3
2. Ace Andres (Oxy) def. Cody Ray Emery (WC) 7-5,7-6(6)
3. Zach Haas (Oxy) def. Ethan Ha (WC) 6-4,3-6,12-10
4. Owen Vander Ark (WC) def. Dennis Isak (UCSC) 4-6,6-1,6-3
5. Ridley Potter (Oxy) def. Preston Hastings (WC) 2-6,6-1,6-2
6. Quentin Kemna (Oxy) def. Benny Saito (WC) 6-0,6-1