Gonzaga University
ITA Northwest Regionals Day 1
A Trio of Zags Advance at ITA Northwest Regionals
10/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
SEATTLE--For the fifth time in six years, three members of the Gonzaga University men's tennis team advanced to the Round of 64 in the ITA Northwest Regionals. The Bulldogs played day one of the annual tournament Thursday, held this year at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle and Kirkland's Eastside Tennis Center.
Three Zags picked up singles wins on day one, and two did so in two sets. Senior Hayden Smith was the first GU player to punch his ticket with a two-set victory over WCC foe Matt Campana of Saint Mary's. Smith took the first set by a couple of breaks at 6-3 and took the second in an extra game at 7-5.
Fellow Aussie Jordan Smith also advanced with a two-set win over a Gael. The freshman took down Saint Mary's' James Markiewicz with a 7-5, 7-6 (2) scoreline to advance during his first Regional tournament.
Junior Ronzai Saurombe joined the Smiths in the Round of 64, posting a three-set win over Portland's Goutham Sundaram. The two competitors split the first sets 7-5 and 5-7, but Saurombe bounced back to win the third 6-3. He'll face the bracket's No. 2 seed Mitch Stewart of Washington in the second round.
This marks the fifth time since 2009 Gonzaga has advanced three players from the first round. They've also done so in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Three more Zags began the ITA Northwest Regionals with a loss. Freshman Emilio Moreno played the first match of the tournament for Gonzaga, winning seven games but falling to Mikus Losbergs of Sacramento State 6-3, 6-4. Senior Vicente Varas took on Oregon's Simon Stevens and lost in straight 6-2 sets, while sophomore Connor Arend lost 6-1, 6-3 to Bryce McKelvie of UC Davis.
In doubles play, the Smiths teamed up and reached the Round of 32 with a win over a conference duo. They beat Pacific's Daniel Alameh and Alex Giannini 8-5 to remain undefeated in doubles play on the year.
Meanwhile, Varas and Arend teamed up to face the Pilots' Michail Pervolarakis and Alex Wallace, taking six games from the Portland duo but falling 8-6. They'll move into the consolation bracket, as well Moreno and Saurombe, who were slated to face Fresno State's Euan McIntosh and Jeremy Moser. No score for that match was reported, but the Fresno State pair advanced to the Round of 32.
"The team had a solid performance overall today," said Gonzaga head coach Peter MacDonald. "The guys gutted out some tough matches, and we're looking forward to more tests tomorrow."
Gonzaga will continue the ITA Northwest Regionals Friday, Oct. 23. The first singles matches will begin at 9:00 a.m., again in the Nordstrom Tennis Center and also at the Eastside Tennis Center in Kirkland, Wash.
Singles - First Round
Mikus Losbergs (Sacramento State) def. Emilio Moreno (Gonzaga) 6-3, 6-4
Bryce McKelvie (UC Davis) def. Connor Arend (Gonzaga) 6-1, 6-3
Hayden Smith (Gonzaga) def. Matt Campana (Saint Mary's) 6-3, 7-5
Simon Stevens (Oregon) def. Vicente Varas (Gonzaga) 6-2, 6-2
Jordan Smith (Gonzaga) def. James Markiewicz (Saint Mary's) 7-5, 7-6 (2)
Ronzai Saurombe (Gonzaga) def. Goutham Sundaram (Portland) 7-5, 5-7, 6-3
Doubles -- First Round
Pervolarakis/Wallace (Portland) def. Varas/Arend (Gonzaga) 8-6
Smith/Smith (Gonzaga) def. Alameh/Giannini (Pacific) 8-5
McIntosh/Moser (Fresno State) def. Moreno/Saurombe (Gonzaga) (no score reported)
