Mustang News Staff Report
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After a blazing start to the season, the Cal Poly men’s tennis team hit a road bump this weekend against Loyola Marymount University (LMU).
The No. 61-ranked Mustangs fell 4-3 to the Lions on Friday, their first loss at Mustang Courts this season.
The sophomore doubles duo of Ben Donovan and Corey Pang continued their dominance, defeating LMU’s No. 1 doubles team 6-3 for their seventh straight win. However, the other two Cal Poly doubles teams were unable to win their sets, surrendering the doubles point to the Lions.
The Mustangs fell behind early, trailing 3-1 and leaving LMU one point away from victory.
Sophomore Garrett Auproux was able to finish off his opponent in his singles match, while Pang was able to do the same right after, leaving the score deadlocked at 3-3 with one match yet to be decided.
Senior Naveen Beasley took the first set off of his opponent but was unable to secure the second set and, subsequently, the match. Beasley went down 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The Mustangs rebounded well from the loss, though, rallying to defeat No. 71-ranked Utah State 4-3 on Sunday.
Freshman Axel Damiens was the hero of the day, emerging victorious from his singles match with the overall score at 3-3. Damiens did the opposite of what Beasley did Friday, losing the first set but coming back to win the second two and the match.
Donovan and Pang dominated once again, winning their doubles match 6-1, but the Mustangs still dropped the doubles point.
Donovan, Auproux and Pang all won their singles matches, allowing Damiens to seal the overall victory. Donovan is now 9-4 in the No. 1 singles slot.
Cal Poly will conclude its four-match homestand Friday against No. 67-ranked SMU at Mustangs Courts.