Friday’s 5-2 win against the University of San Francisco was BYU’s eighth win of the season for the men’s team. Three of the Cougars finished off their opponents in just two sets.
“This team showed some character and resilience today,” said BYU head coach Brad Pearce. “I was proud of them.”
At the start of the day, it seemed the Dons would take the win, leading 2-0 at doubles and fifth singles. Matthew Pearce and Francis Sargeant, BYU’s nationally ranked player, led the Cougars in their comeback; Pearce beat his opponent in the first two sets, and Sargeant beat his in the last two sets, pulling the Cougars up 3-2. The match against USF was Pearce’s fifth consecutive singles win.
Singles Andrey Goryachkov and Jeremy Bourgeois also held their own, following Pearce’s lead to beat their opponents in two sets. Goryachkov scored 6-4 and 6-2 against USF’s Nils Skajaa, and Bourgeois beat Thomas Takemoto 6-4 and 7-6(8).
The only singles player who was not successful in securing a win was Jacob Sullivan, who fell 6-2, 6-2 to Don Germain Bahri.
BYU freshman Aidan Carrazedo, from South Africa, finished last, beating Timothy Tan in the second and third sets. Tan dominated the first set 6-2, but then Carrazedo fought back to win 6-3 and 6-4.
Doubles Bourgeois and Sullivan fell short against Bahri and Thomas Takemoto, 8-2. Pearce and Sargeant also fell short in doubles to Christian Brockstedt and Tan, 8-3.
The Cougars will next play No. 55 San Diego on the road before returning to Provo next week.
