Denver, CO.-  The Arizona men's tennis team is now 8-6 on the season after losing a close match to the Pioneers in Denver. The Wildcats will face their second opponent in as many days, No. 45 Cal Poly, on Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m. MST.
 
"We lost a close one," said head coach Clancy Shields. " The guys are fighting hard and getting to the finish line, but we're having a hard time crossing that line. We are playing not to lose rather than playing to win in big moments. We will have the confidence to win these matches once we get more consistent in practice. Our level in big moments reverts back to our level in practice."
 
In doubles play, the Arizona duo of junior Shoti Meparidze and sophomore Will Adkisson lost tot Denver seniors Yannik James and Alex Gasson by a score of 7-5 on court one not long before junior Shoki Kasahara and freshman Alejandro Reguant fell to junior Wyatt Lovera and freshman Pedro Fernandez Del Valle on court three.
 
The Pioneers extended their lead to 3-0 with singles wins on courts two and six before junior Trent Botha put Arizona on the board with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 win over Gasson on court three. Kasahara brought Arizona within one point of Denver with a three set win over freshman Sean Huynh on court five, but the Pioneers clinched the match soon after when James defeated Meparidze on court one. Despite the outcome having already been decided, Reguant and Del Valle finished their match on court four which Reguant won in three sets, finalizing the score at 4-3.
 
"We have to come out ready tomorrow against a good Cal Poly Team," said Shields. "We will see what type of bounce back ability we have and what leadership is present in tomorrow's match."
 
Cal Poly is currently 9-5 on the season and ranked 45th by the Oracle Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The Mustangs are riding a three-match win streak after winning matches against Pacific, Utah State, and Middle Tennessee on March 5th, 7th, and 8th. Cal Poly seniors No. 85 Ben Donavan and No. 100 Corey Pang also represent the 44th-ranked doubles team in the nation.
 
Doubles
Gasson/James (Den) def. Adkisson/Meparidze (UA) 7-5
Botha/Plaskett (UA) vs. Rocha/Ruder-Hook (Den) 6-6
Lovera/Del Valle (Den) def. Kasahara/Reguant (UA) 7-6
 
Singles
James (Den) def. Meparidze (UA) 6-0, 4-6, 7-6
Rocha (Den) def. Kneale (UA) 6-3, 6-1
Botha (UA) def. Gasson (Den) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
Reguant (UA) def. Del Valle (Den) 6-3, 6-7, 7-5
Kasahara (UA) def. Huynh (Den) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Lovera (Den) def. Plaskett (UA) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2
  
Event Information
Date/Time: Saturday, March 11th at 1 p.m. MST
 
Location: Colorado Athletic Club (Monaco)
2695 South Monaco Parkway, Denver, CO, 80222
Twitter Updates: @ArizonaMTennis
 
The Field: Cal Poly
 
Who's Competing for the Wildcats
Will Kneale
Oliver Plaskett
Shoki Kasahara
Trent Botha
Shoti Meparidze
Will Adkisson
Alejandro Reguant  
 
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