
Matt Cowley
TUCSON, Ariz. – Utah Men’s Tennis sent itself into this week’s Pac-12 Championships on a positive note, winning the last match of the regular season this afternoon, 6-1 at Arizona.
The Utes are 17-9, the most wins in a season since 1988 and the best total since the NCAA limited competition dates to 25.
“It was a good effort by the guys today against a tough, energetic Arizona team,” head coach Roeland Brateanu said. “It is great to close out the regular season with a win and head into postseason play with a win under our belt. This will definitely help our confidence going into this week’s Pac-12 Championships.”
Utah snared the doubles point rather quickly as Egbert Weverink and Freddie McGeehan beat the UA pairing of Kasahara and Dunn, 6-1. Parker McGuiness and Jamey Swiggart sealed the deal with a 6-3 win at the No. 2 position.
The Utes earned simultaneous singles points to grab a 3-0 lead when David Micevski wrapped up a win over Will Kneale at No. 2, 6-2, 6-3, and McGuiness rolled through Oliver Plaskett, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5.
Arizona stayed alive with a win at No. 6 singles as Shoki Kasahara topped Swiggart, 7-5, 6-4. The Utes would crush any hopes of a comeback for the home team when Dan Little beat Jason Jaruvang at No. 3, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1. Utah capped the day with Weverink completing a victory against Trent Botha at No. 4 , 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 and Cowley defeating 96th ranked Naoki Takeda, 7-6, 6-7, 10-5.
Utah heads to Ojai, Calif., where it will now play Washington in a Pac-12 Championship first-round match at 3 p.m. PT on Wednesday.
Match Results
Utah 6, Arizona 1
Singles
1. Matt Cowley (UU) def. No. 96 Naoki Takeda (AZ) 7-6, 6-7, 10-5
2. David Micevski (UU) def. Will Kneale (AZ) 6-2, 6-3
3. Dan Little (UU) def. Jason Jaruvang (AZ) 7-6, 2-6, 6-1
4. Egbert Weverink (UU) def. Trent Botha (AZ) 3-6, 7-5, 7-6
5. Parker McGuiness (UU) def. Oliver Plaskett (AZ) 6-1, 6-4
6. Shoki Kasahara (AZ) def. Jamey Swiggart (UU) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
1. No. 88 Little/Cowley (UU) vs. (AZ) Kneale/Plaskett, 4-4 unf.
2. McGuiness/Swiggart (UU) def. (AZ) Adkisson/Takeda , 6-3
3. Weverink/McGeehan (UU) def. (AZ) Kasahara/Dunn, 6-1