Upcoming Event: Men's Tennis versus ITA All-American Championships on September 21, 2025
Men's Tennis
vs ITA All-American Championships
Friday, November 8
Los Angeles, CA
All Day
University of Utah
vs
LMU Invitational
Photo by: Clare Mullin
Utes Complete First Day of LMU Invitational
11/8/2019 9:15 PM | Men's Tennis
Gavelin and Shainyan, pair of Utes pick up victories on Friday in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES – The University of Utah men's tennis team has completed day one of competition at the LMU Invitational. Friday's action consisted of the Utes matching up against UC Irvine in singles to start off the day, followed by a showdown in doubles against tournament host LMU at the LMU Tennis Center.
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Mathias Gavelin picked up a singles victory against UC Irvine for the Utes, posting a win against Mark Peneff in a three-set match. Gavelin went up 6-2 after the first set, but would drop the second set 1-6. Battling in the third to earn the win, Gavelin finished things off in the final frame, 6-4, to take the match.
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Slava Shainyan saw his first action of the fall on Friday. In the first set, he trailed 4-3 late against Mateusz Smolicki, before Smolicki ultimately retired from the match. Randy Cory also saw his first competition in the fall season at the LMU Invitational today and was matched up against Ali Amiri. Cory was able to steal the tight first set 7-6, but then fell in the final two sets 4-6, 2-6.
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Paul McCallie faced off against Jeremy Merville, as he too was able to take the first set 7-6 from his opponent from UC Irvine. McCallie then fell to Merville 3-6, 3-6, in the final two sets. Azat Hankuliyev was then paired up against Daniel Gealer, falling in the first set 4-6, but then coming back with a dominant 6-0 second set win. Hankuliyev couldn't pull it out in the end and fell 2-6 in the third set to drop the match. Freshman Rafael Grovas was then matched up against Mike Mkrtchian and fell 1-6, 3-6.
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Looking to wrap up the day strong in doubles, the Utes then faced off against tournament host LMU. The duo of Gavelin and McCallie started off strong with a win against Max Kaiser and Ryan Brown, coming out on top with a score of 8-4. Grovas and Cory then followed with a win of their own. The Ute duo beat out Ethan Prost and Austin Di Giulio, with a 8-5 win.
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Utah's top duo in the event, Hankuliyev and Shainyan, dropped their doubles match to Diego Nava and Thien Nguyen 5-8 to close out the first day of action for Utah.
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The LMU Invitational will continue tomorrow morning, as the Utes are set to match up against tournament host LMU in singles, followed by doubles action against Utah State.
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Due to weather and the tennis courts at the LMU Tennis Center being wet, competition will continue at 10 a.m. PT instead of 9 a.m. PT, starting with singles. A recap of tomorrow's competition will be made available at UtahUtes.com following the conclusion of the day's action.
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LMU Invitational – Day 1 Results
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Singles vs. UC Irvine
Slava Shainyan (UU) def. Mateusz Smolicki (UCI), 4-3, ret.
Mathias Gavelin (UU) def. Mark Peneff (UCI), 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
Ali Amiri (UCI) def. Randy Cory (UU), 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
Jeremy Merville (UCI) def. Paul McCallie (UU), 6-7, 6-3, 6-3
Daniel Gealer (UCI) def. Azat Hankuliyev (UU), 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
Mike Mkrtchian (UCI) def. Rafael Grovas (UU), 6-1, 6-3
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Doubles vs. LMU
Diego Nava/Thien Nguyen (LMU) def. Azat Hankuliyev/Slava Shainyan (UU), 8-5
Mathias Gavelin/Paul McCallie (UU) def. Max Kaiser/Ryan Brown (LMU), 8-4
Rafael Grovas/Randy Cory (UU) def. Ethan Prost/Austin Di Giulio (LMU), 8-5
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Mathias Gavelin picked up a singles victory against UC Irvine for the Utes, posting a win against Mark Peneff in a three-set match. Gavelin went up 6-2 after the first set, but would drop the second set 1-6. Battling in the third to earn the win, Gavelin finished things off in the final frame, 6-4, to take the match.
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Slava Shainyan saw his first action of the fall on Friday. In the first set, he trailed 4-3 late against Mateusz Smolicki, before Smolicki ultimately retired from the match. Randy Cory also saw his first competition in the fall season at the LMU Invitational today and was matched up against Ali Amiri. Cory was able to steal the tight first set 7-6, but then fell in the final two sets 4-6, 2-6.
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Paul McCallie faced off against Jeremy Merville, as he too was able to take the first set 7-6 from his opponent from UC Irvine. McCallie then fell to Merville 3-6, 3-6, in the final two sets. Azat Hankuliyev was then paired up against Daniel Gealer, falling in the first set 4-6, but then coming back with a dominant 6-0 second set win. Hankuliyev couldn't pull it out in the end and fell 2-6 in the third set to drop the match. Freshman Rafael Grovas was then matched up against Mike Mkrtchian and fell 1-6, 3-6.
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Looking to wrap up the day strong in doubles, the Utes then faced off against tournament host LMU. The duo of Gavelin and McCallie started off strong with a win against Max Kaiser and Ryan Brown, coming out on top with a score of 8-4. Grovas and Cory then followed with a win of their own. The Ute duo beat out Ethan Prost and Austin Di Giulio, with a 8-5 win.
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Utah's top duo in the event, Hankuliyev and Shainyan, dropped their doubles match to Diego Nava and Thien Nguyen 5-8 to close out the first day of action for Utah.
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The LMU Invitational will continue tomorrow morning, as the Utes are set to match up against tournament host LMU in singles, followed by doubles action against Utah State.
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Due to weather and the tennis courts at the LMU Tennis Center being wet, competition will continue at 10 a.m. PT instead of 9 a.m. PT, starting with singles. A recap of tomorrow's competition will be made available at UtahUtes.com following the conclusion of the day's action.
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LMU Invitational – Day 1 Results
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Singles vs. UC Irvine
Slava Shainyan (UU) def. Mateusz Smolicki (UCI), 4-3, ret.
Mathias Gavelin (UU) def. Mark Peneff (UCI), 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
Ali Amiri (UCI) def. Randy Cory (UU), 6-7, 6-4, 6-2
Jeremy Merville (UCI) def. Paul McCallie (UU), 6-7, 6-3, 6-3
Daniel Gealer (UCI) def. Azat Hankuliyev (UU), 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
Mike Mkrtchian (UCI) def. Rafael Grovas (UU), 6-1, 6-3
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Doubles vs. LMU
Diego Nava/Thien Nguyen (LMU) def. Azat Hankuliyev/Slava Shainyan (UU), 8-5
Mathias Gavelin/Paul McCallie (UU) def. Max Kaiser/Ryan Brown (LMU), 8-4
Rafael Grovas/Randy Cory (UU) def. Ethan Prost/Austin Di Giulio (LMU), 8-5
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Players Mentioned
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