ORANGE, Calif. — It was a strong showing from the Cal Lutheran men's tennis team as the Kingsmen knocked off the Chapman Panthers 8-1 Friday afternoon at the Lastinger Tennis Center.
Cal Lutheran got its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win. The Kingsmen are 1-1 in conference play and 3-9 overall. With the loss, Chapman is 5-8 overall and 0-4 in conference.
The Kingsmen dominated right from the get-go. CLU swept the doubles matches and had an early 3-0 lead. Lucas Tilly and Yahn Gawrit won at the No. 1 spot (8-2), Dara Kashani and Ransom Braaten claimed the No. 2 win (8-2) and Michael Sulahian and Andrew Tufenkian took the win at the No. 3 (8-5).
The doubles team of Gawrit and Tilly have now won four straight mates, all at the No. 1 spot. They are 2-0 in SCIAC play.
CLU carried that momentum over to singles play. Braaten made quick work of Chapman at the No. 2 spot and didn't even allow a point (6-0, 6-0). Tilly claimed the win at the No. 3 (6-4, 6-4) and Kashani won at the No. 4 (6-3, 6-2).
Sulahian had a battle in the No. 5 spot. He won the first set 6-2 and then claimed the second set 7-5. Sebastian Ariza competed at the No. 6 spot. He won the first set 6-4, but lost the second set 6-2 and had to go to a third and final set. He won the final set easily with a score of 6-1.
The only point Chapman got was at the No. 1 spot as Gawrit fell 6-2, 6-2.
Cal Lutheran is looking for two straight SCIAC wins as the Kingsmen host Occidental Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Poulson Tennis Center.
Box Score: CLU 8, CU 1
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director