LA JOLLA, Calif. - Led by their seniors Michael Zablan, Kaptan Kaster, Brooks Baldinger and Benjamin Hammond the Point Loma men's tennis team upset No. 11 UC San Diego 6-3 on the Tritons' home courts, Tuesday, Apr. 8.
 
The win was even more impressive for the Sea Lions considering they started in the hole by dropping two of three doubles points but each of these men responded in valiant fashion in singles to earn the victory.
 
Sophomore Martin Blaho was one of the difference makers in the match. He was not available earlier this season when PLNU fell to UCSD but today he was the very first player to win a singles match, and bring PLNU its first of five singles points as he took down Alexandre Miaule in straight sets 6-2 and 6-4 at No. 3s to tie the match for Point Loma at 2-2.
 
It was then Michael Zablan which earned the first of three singles points from the PLNU seniors. He earned perhaps the most crucial point of the match at No. 2 singles. He and Rajeev Herekar battled to a tie 6-6 in the first set to send it to a tiebreaker. Zablan battled and won the tiebreaker 7-3 to take the first set. He then carried that momentum right into the second set to sweep 6-0 and give PLNU its first lead at 3-2.
 
Kevin McKelligan then put PLNU in front 4-2 with a three set win at No. 6s over Maxence Dutreix. He dropped the first set 1-6 but came all the way back with 6-2 wins in sets two and three.
 
After UCSD was able to win at No. 5s to edge within one Brooks Baldinger and Kaptan Kaster slammed the door on their comeback hopes as each earned three set victories as No. 1 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Just like Zablan, Baldinger had to go to a tiebreaker in the first set but won 7-4 to take the early lead. He then dropped the second set 3-6 before bouncing back with a 6-4 win in the decisive third set. Kaster sealed off the victory with a 6-3, 4-6 and 7-5 win.

PLNU also earned at point at No. 2 singles with Baldinger and fellow senior Benjamin Hammond in dramatic fashion, 9-7. 
 
The Sea Lions (6-12) avenged a 7-2 loss to UCSD (15-7) earlier in the season. This is also PLNU first win over UCSD since 2010.
 
The Sea Lion men are picking up momentum at the right time as they head into the PacWest Championships next week in Phoenix. They still have three more matches bore that however. Their next will be Thursday (Apr. 10) at Vanguard. 

Point Loma 6, #11 UC San Diego 3
Singles competition
1. Baldinger, Brooks (PLNU-MT) def. Max Jiganti (UCSD) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4
2. Zablan, Michael (PLNU-MT) def. Rajeev Herekar (UCSD) 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
3. Blaho, Martin (PLNU-MT) def. Alexandre Miaule (UCSD) 6-2, 6-4
4. Kaster, Kaptan (PLNU-MT) def. Horea Porutiu (UCSD) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
5. Mark Meyer (UCSD) def. Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
6. McKelligan, Kevin (PLNU-MT) def. Maxence Dutreix (UCSD) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #22 Max Jiganti/Kona Luu (UCSD) def. Blaho, Martin/Kaster, Kaptan (PLNU-MT) 8-0
2. Baldinger, Brooks/Hammond, Benjamin (PLNU-MT) def. Alexandre Miaule/Horea Porutiu (UCSD) 8-6
3. Rajeev Herekar/Mark Meyer (UCSD) def. McKelligan, Kevin/Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) 8-3

Match Notes
Point Loma 6-12; Regional ranking #7
UC San Diego 15-7; National ranking #11; Regional ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,6,5,1,4)