SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Fifth-seed ASU had a Pac-12 Men's Tennis Championship to remember this weekend in San Diego, Calif., but the team's miracle run ended short of a historical first program title Monday night with 4-1 loss to three-seed USC. The Sun Devils' lone point came via the doubles point thanks to strong play on courts one and three from Tim Ruehl/Makey Rakotomalala and Andrea Bolla/ Christian Lerby, respectively. The Maroon and Gold now turn their attention to the NCAA selection show next Monday at 3 p.m. MST.
Arizona State came out hot with the doubles point victory but couldn't keep it going into singles where Rakotomalala and No. 95 Nathan Ponwith were the lone Sun Devils to win a set. ASU's weekend in San Diego kicked off with a 4-3 upset of four-seed No. 28 UCLA. The win was the Maroon and Gold's first over the Bruins and handed UCLA its first first-round loss in the Pac-12 Tournament. The next day featured another wild 4-3 upset, this time the Sun Devils topping top-seeded and four-time tournament champion No. 23 Stanford.
4/26/2021 at San Diego, Calif.
(Barnes Tennis Center)
#15 USC 4, #27 Arizona State 1
Singles competition
1. Daniel Cukierman (USC) vs. Nathan Ponwith (ASU) no result
2. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) vs. Riley Smith (USC) 6-4, 6-7, unfinished
3. Stefan Dostanic (USC) def. Tim Ruehl (ASU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Bradley Frye (USC) def. Andrea Bolla (ASU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Lodewijk Weststrate (USC) def. Max McKennon (ASU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Jake Sands (USC) def. Christian Lerby (ASU) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Tim Ruehl/Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Daniel Cukierman/Riley Smith (USC) 6-4
2. Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye (USC) vs. Nathan Ponwith/Max McKennon (ASU) no result
3. Andrea Bolla/Christian Lerby (ASU) def. Ryder Jackson/Jake Sands (USC) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (,1,3); Singles (4,5,6,3)
ASU 5 SEED
USC 3 SEED
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Arizona State came out hot with the doubles point victory but couldn't keep it going into singles where Rakotomalala and No. 95 Nathan Ponwith were the lone Sun Devils to win a set. ASU's weekend in San Diego kicked off with a 4-3 upset of four-seed No. 28 UCLA. The win was the Maroon and Gold's first over the Bruins and handed UCLA its first first-round loss in the Pac-12 Tournament. The next day featured another wild 4-3 upset, this time the Sun Devils topping top-seeded and four-time tournament champion No. 23 Stanford.
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— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) April 27, 2021
Ponwith and McKennon go 6-4 at No. 2 to give ASU it's first doubles match!
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That's a set!
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) April 27, 2021
Makey Rakotomalala goes up 6-4 on Riley Smith at No. 2! ??
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A tournament to remember. We made history and showed that this program is in good hands. #ForksUp?? pic.twitter.com/pnimygJxTM
— Sun Devil M. Tennis (@SunDevilMTennis) April 27, 2021
4/26/2021 at San Diego, Calif.
(Barnes Tennis Center)
#15 USC 4, #27 Arizona State 1
Singles competition
1. Daniel Cukierman (USC) vs. Nathan Ponwith (ASU) no result
2. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) vs. Riley Smith (USC) 6-4, 6-7, unfinished
3. Stefan Dostanic (USC) def. Tim Ruehl (ASU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Bradley Frye (USC) def. Andrea Bolla (ASU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Lodewijk Weststrate (USC) def. Max McKennon (ASU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Jake Sands (USC) def. Christian Lerby (ASU) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Tim Ruehl/Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Daniel Cukierman/Riley Smith (USC) 6-4
2. Stefan Dostanic/Bradley Frye (USC) vs. Nathan Ponwith/Max McKennon (ASU) no result
3. Andrea Bolla/Christian Lerby (ASU) def. Ryder Jackson/Jake Sands (USC) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (,1,3); Singles (4,5,6,3)
ASU 5 SEED
USC 3 SEED
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH