SAN DIEGO - Five new student-athletes took the court today for the Point Loma men's tennis team in its season opener against UC San Diego. Newcomers Andre Staab and CJ Erion both earned their first collegiate wins for No. 45 Point Loma, but it was not enough to overcome No. 18 UC San Diego as the Sea Lions fell to the Tritons, 7-2, on Thursday (Feb. 4).
 
Point Loma dropped all three doubles matches but you would never have known it by the ferocity they showed in singles. Erion won in straight sets at No. 5 6-2 and 6-2, while Staab captured a point at No. 1 singles with a three-set win (7-5, 6-7, 10-7) over Axel Bouillin.  
 
"Our guys did a great job competing in singles from the start to the very end," said Point Loma head coach Curt Wheeler. "It was frustrating because we had opportunities to win every match but it was also encouraging in the same note because of the poor start we got off to in doubles.
 
"If we could have been a little stronger in doubles, and a couple singles matches turn the other way, it would have been a totally different result," he added. "I am proud of our guys competing all the way through."
 
At No. 2 singles, Martin Blaho also pushed his opponent to the third set but UCSD was able to prevail with a 6-2 win in the finale.
 
Sea Lions taking the courts for the first time today included Grant Alston in No. 3 doubles, James Tenbroeck at No. 3 singles and Jack Alston at No. 6 singles, along with Staab and Erion.
 
"The practice court to the competition court is a big difference with how you handle the pressure, the stress and the ups-and-downs," Wheeler explained. "Our freshmen and transfers handled it better than I could have even expected. I was really happy with the way our freshmen and transfers adapted to the new environment and played those big points very well."
 
Point Loma will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 6 when it hosts Azusa Pacific at 10:00 a.m.
 
#18 UC San Diego 7, #45 Point Loma 2
Singles competition
1. Staab, Andre (PLNU-MT) def. Axel Bouillin (UCSD) 7-5, 6-7, 10-7
2. Eric Tseng (UCSD) def. Blaho, Martin (PLNU-MT) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
3. Horea Porutiu (UCSD) def. Tenbroeck, James (PLNU-MT) 6-1, 7-5
4. Rajeev Herekar (UCSD) def. Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) 7-6, 7-5
5. Erion, CJ (PLNU-MT) def. Mark Meyer (UCSD) 6-2, 6-2
6. Justin Zhang (UCSD) def. Alston, Jack (PLNU-MT) 6-2, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Axel Bouillin/Rajeev Herekar (UCSD) def. Staab, Andre/Milliken, Daniel (PLNU-MT) 8-3
2. Horea Porutiu/Alexandre Miaule (UCSD) def. Blaho, Martin/Erion, CJ (PLNU-MT) 8-6
3. Kona Luu/Mark Meyer (UCSD) def. Tenbroeck, James/Alston, Grant (PLNU-MT) 8-2
 
Match Notes:
A-89