Texas males’s tennis hosted No. 25 UCLA within the second spherical of the 2024 NCAA Championships on Saturday, sweeping the Bruins 4-0 and advancing to the Tremendous Regionals.
The Longhorns prolonged their win streak to fifteen as they proceed their quest to win one other Nationwide Title. They will face Texas A&M subsequent, who superior by defeating San Diego State.
Listed here are three observations from Texas’ match.
Doubles hassle
Texas discovered itself in hassle early even earlier than the match began, as senior Eshan Talluri discovered within the morning that he would not be enjoying the No. 3 line along with his regular accomplice, Pierre-Yves Bailly. As an alternative, redshirt freshman Lucas Brown subbed in, debuting a wholly new duo for the second spherical of the event.
An hour after the match began, the duo quickly discovered themselves within the unenviable place of a winner-takes-all tiebreaker. With Cleeve Harper and Micah Braswell already having misplaced on the No. 2 line and Eliot Spizzirri/Siem Woldeab profitable on the prime spot, the stress was on for Talluri and Brown.
“I am a senior, however I really have not performed a ton of matches till proper this yr,” Talluri mentioned concerning the win. “So I feel it was a brand new expertise for each of us however I feel each of us are actually energetic gamers and depend on fed off one another”
They got here by means of for UT, profitable 7-6(4) and clinching the doubles level over UCLA regardless of their inexperience. Cach Bruce Berque acknowledged that they did not play their finest match, however he was proud nonetheless.
“I feel within the large moments they actually stepped up and did an excellent job,” Berque mentioned.
Spizzirri struggles
The now No. 2 participant within the nation had some uncharacteristic struggles vs. UCLA’s prime participant, Govind Nanda. The Longhorn struggled as Nanda prevented unforced errors and his protection compelled Spizzirri into lengthy rallies and errors.
Whereas Nanda ranks because the thirty second participant within the nation, the 2 gamers have a prolonged historical past that dates again to their junior days. The Bruin was in a position to win the primary set 7-6(6) and declare a break over Spizzirri earlier than the opposite matches concluded and ended UCLA’s season.
Regardless, Berque stays assured in his finest participant, remarking on the battle he confirmed regardless of the match being wiped from the scoreboard.
“I preferred the best way he was like he wasn’t scoreboard watching on the finish he was combating for each level,” Berque mentioned.
Carry on the Aggies
A&M is incoming, and with it comes the additional spice that at all times rises up when the maroon clashes with the burnt orange.
Texas confronted off with the Aggies final yr, beating them 5-2. The Longhorns are at the moment on a 4 match profitable streak vs. their rivals and Berque is happy for an additional likelihood to face off – and probably remove – the oldsters from Faculty Station.
“Particularly with a match with such large implications it is gonna be a number of fireworks and hopefully we’ve a full home once more,” Berque mentioned.
For Talluri, it is not simply the truth that Texas is dealing with A&M. It’s going to even be his final match on the Austin Tennis Middle because of his impending commencement.
“I will be darned if I am not going to present every little thing I bought vs. A&M,” Talluri mentioned.
As for Brown, it is a little bit extra easy.
“I do not rock with the Aggies,” he mentioned with a smile.
This text initially appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas males’s tennis sweeps UCLA, units up NCAA match with Texas A&M
