SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma men's tennis team got its first look at affiliate Pacific West Conference member Sonoma State on Friday (Feb. 27) and took down the Seawolves 7-2. PLNU is now 3-4 on the season and SSU is 2-8. 
 
The match started with Daniel Milliken and Aaron Staab quickly putting a point on the board for PLNU with an 8-2 win on court 1. James Tenbroeck and Grant Alston added another point for PLNU by taking the final three sets to win their match at No. 3 doubles, 9-7.
 
"The biggest thing with doubles is momentum," said Point Loma head coach Curt Wheeler. "There is a break between doubles and singles and having that positive momentum in huge in the match.
 
With the 2-1 advantage the Sea Lions moved to singles. Andre Staab, Martin Blaho, CJ Erion, James Tenbroeck and Jack Alston each earned straight set victories in singles as Point won the match 7-2.  
 
"When we take the advantage into singles our guys are very confident knowing they just have to split singles to earn the match win," said Wheeler. "Andre had a great day for us. Playing the No. 1 spot is always going to be difficult. Every team has a great No. 1 player. He and Daniel played great in doubles and got us that first point. That is huge in doubles because you are now the team with the positive momentum moving forward."
 
Point Loma came into the match ranked No. 5 in the region and No. 42 in the country. Sonoma State is one spot behind them in each ranking.
 
"It is good experience to play against PacWest opponents and it shows our guys that we are right there with all of them," Wheeler continued. "We have played three teams in our region and that have been ranked ahead of us and we have played some very close matches. It has been tough on the guys because we have been so close to pulling out those tight matches but at the same time they have done a great job of turning the frustration and disappointment of not winning into motivation and focus. They did a great job rebounding today.
 
"This is great experience for the guys having three tough matches in a row because when we go out to conference it is going to be three tough matches in a row," Wheeler explained. "We need to be able to handle the back-to-back-to-back, not just physically but mentally, because it tough not having a day between matches. You have to be able to reflect on the match, let it go, then refocus on the upcoming match."
 
Point Loma will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 11:00 a.m. when it host another PacWest opponent, Holy Names. 

#42 Point Loma 7, #43 Sonoma State 2
Singles competition
1. Staab, Andre (PLNU-MT) def. Philip Holbrook (SSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Blaho, Martin (PLNU-MT) def. Daniel Holz (SSU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Tenbroeck, James (PLNU-MT) def. Noah Lee (SSU) 7-6, 7-6
4. Blaine Mengert (SSU) def. Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) 6-2, 3-6, 10-3
5. Erion, CJ (PLNU-MT) def. Vincent Paganetti (SSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Alston, Jack (PLNU-MT) def. Matt Weeber (SSU) 6-1, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Staab, Andre/Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) def. Philip Holbrook/Noah Lee (SSU) 8-2
2. Blaine Mengert/Logan Liddell (SSU) def. Erion, CJ/Blaho, Martin (PLNU-MT) 9-7
3. Tenbroeck, James/Alston, Grant (PLNU-MT) def. Matt Weeber/Sullivan Roche (SSU) 9-7

Match Notes:
Sonoma State 2-8; National ranking #43; Regional ranking #6
Point Loma 3-4; National ranking #42; Regional ranking #5
T-4:14 A-59