Upcoming Event: Men's Tennis versus ITA All-American Championships on September 21, 2025
Men's Tennis
vs ITA All-American Championships
Friday, March 8
Salt Lake City, UT
4:00 PM
University of Utah
2
vs
4
UCLA
Men's Tennis Falls Short to No. 20 UCLA
3/8/2019 6:57 PM | Men's Tennis
SALT LAKE CITY – The 41st ranked University of Utah men's tennis team was unable to come away with a victory earlier today, as they fell short to No. 20 UCLA, 2-4. With this loss, the Utes will now move to a record of 12-4 on the season, starting off Pac-12 conference play 0-1.
"I'm just proud of the way that we fought today," said head coach Roeland Brateanu. "I think we put ourselves in the position to win the doubles point, probably should have won that. It was there for the taking, in doubles, and I think it was there for the taking in singles too. I've got to give it to UCLA, they played tough and played really great in the big moments."
In doubles, Joe Woolley and Russell Benkaim recorded the only victory for the Utes, as they were able to defeat Bryce Pereira and Patrick Zahraj with a score of 7-5, at the No. 3 position. The Utes were unable to tally victories on courts 1 and 2, as UCLA took the 1-0 advantage heading into singles.
David Micevski started things off strong for the Utes in singles, as he was able to down 98th ranked Keegan Smith with a score of 6-3, 6-4, at the No. 2 spot. Then on the No. 4 court, Benkaim followed with a victory of his own against Patrick Zahraj, coming away with a 6-3, 6-4 win. With the score at 2-3, Mathias Gavelin was unable to come away with a victory against Ben Goldberg, allowing the Bruins to take the win against the Utes.
The University of Utah men's tennis team will be back in action tomorrow, March 9th, as they will take on 19th ranked USC at the Eccles Tennis Center. Competition against the Trojans is set to start at 2 p.m. MT.
No. 20 UCLA 4, No. 41 Utah 2
Doubles (1,3,2)
Cressy/Rapp (UCLA) def. Shainyan/Micevski (UTAH), 6-1
Nanda/Smith (UCLA) def. Little/Cory (UTAH), 7-6
Woolley/Benkaim (UTAH) def. Pereira/Zahraj (UCLA), 7-5
Singles (3,2,1,4,5)
No. 118 Maxime Cressy (UCLA) def. No. 64 Dan Little (UTAH), 6-4, 6-1
David Micevski (UTAH) def. No. 98 Keegan Smith (UCLA), 6-3, 6-4
No. 46 Govind Nanda (UCLA) def. Slava Shainyan (UTAH), 6-2, 6-3
Russell Benkaim (UTAH) def. Patrick Zahraj (UCLA), 6-3, 6-4
Ben Goldberg (UCLA) def. Mathias Gavelin (UTAH), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Joe Woolley (UTAH) vs. No. 106 Mathew Tsolakyan (UCLA), 6-4, 5-7, 4-3, unf.
"I'm just proud of the way that we fought today," said head coach Roeland Brateanu. "I think we put ourselves in the position to win the doubles point, probably should have won that. It was there for the taking, in doubles, and I think it was there for the taking in singles too. I've got to give it to UCLA, they played tough and played really great in the big moments."
In doubles, Joe Woolley and Russell Benkaim recorded the only victory for the Utes, as they were able to defeat Bryce Pereira and Patrick Zahraj with a score of 7-5, at the No. 3 position. The Utes were unable to tally victories on courts 1 and 2, as UCLA took the 1-0 advantage heading into singles.
David Micevski started things off strong for the Utes in singles, as he was able to down 98th ranked Keegan Smith with a score of 6-3, 6-4, at the No. 2 spot. Then on the No. 4 court, Benkaim followed with a victory of his own against Patrick Zahraj, coming away with a 6-3, 6-4 win. With the score at 2-3, Mathias Gavelin was unable to come away with a victory against Ben Goldberg, allowing the Bruins to take the win against the Utes.
The University of Utah men's tennis team will be back in action tomorrow, March 9th, as they will take on 19th ranked USC at the Eccles Tennis Center. Competition against the Trojans is set to start at 2 p.m. MT.
No. 20 UCLA 4, No. 41 Utah 2
Doubles (1,3,2)
Cressy/Rapp (UCLA) def. Shainyan/Micevski (UTAH), 6-1
Nanda/Smith (UCLA) def. Little/Cory (UTAH), 7-6
Woolley/Benkaim (UTAH) def. Pereira/Zahraj (UCLA), 7-5
Singles (3,2,1,4,5)
No. 118 Maxime Cressy (UCLA) def. No. 64 Dan Little (UTAH), 6-4, 6-1
David Micevski (UTAH) def. No. 98 Keegan Smith (UCLA), 6-3, 6-4
No. 46 Govind Nanda (UCLA) def. Slava Shainyan (UTAH), 6-2, 6-3
Russell Benkaim (UTAH) def. Patrick Zahraj (UCLA), 6-3, 6-4
Ben Goldberg (UCLA) def. Mathias Gavelin (UTAH), 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Joe Woolley (UTAH) vs. No. 106 Mathew Tsolakyan (UCLA), 6-4, 5-7, 4-3, unf.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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