Bruins have arrived in Seattle!

Getting a hit at the Nordstrom tennis center!

Bruins Will take on Tennessee Volunteers in the the Round of 16

UCLA was given the third seed coming into the National Indoors Tournament in Seattle, WA. 

We are set to play the Tennessee Volunteers on Friday at 8 AM at the Nordstrom Tennis Center on the campus of UW.

Quick Scout Report: 

The Vols are currently ranked 14th in the nation and are 11-1 on the year with their only loss coming by way of the Duke Blue Devils.

In their last match before indoors they won a decisive match 4-3 against #36 Wake Forest.

Their highest ranked player is Mikelis Libietis who is currently ranked 9 in the nation and has played at the one position for the Vols since his freshman year.

At the two position is Hunter Reese who is currently ranked 40 nationally. 

In the only loss of the year to Duke the only Volunteer to win his match was Brandon Fickey who took down Duke’s #14 Michael Redlicki. Fickey was also responsible for the decision match against Wake Forest. Fickey’s court will definitely be an interesting match to watch.

Stay tuned for updates as the Bruins fly up to Seattle tommorrow! 

GO BRUINS!    

New shoes for indoors!

Quick look at the new shoes that the team will be wearing for indoors this week! Thanks to Adidas tennis for always hooking us up!

Just another night on the machine

Long day on the machine! Thanks to our sponsors Solinco, Wilson, Babolat, Head, Yonex for always gearing us up!

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Pre-season Opener vs. UCSB

The third ranked Bruins will host the 68th ranked UCSB Gauchos tomorrow at 1:30

This will be the first pre-season dual match for us and the second for the gauchos who played Westmont College last week. The gauchos blanked Westmont 7-0

Their lineup against Westmont was as follows:  

DOUBLES

#1 Recknagel/Ndimande (UCSB)
#2 Gryaznov/Bouillin (UCSB) 
#3 Riminton/Johnson (UCSB) 

SINGLES

#1 Benjamin Recknagel (UCSB) 
#2 Mbonisi Ndimande (UCSB)
#3 Axel Bouillin (UCSB)
#4 Sasha Gryaznov 
#5 Jacob Johnson 
#6 Andrew Riminton 

This team remains relatively unchanged from last year and had a strong showing in the ITA Regionals in Irvine at the beginning of the school year. 

Marcos met two of the Gauchos in ITA preseason play earlier this school year. In the round of 32 he defeated Gryznov (UCSB) 6-3,6-2.  In the round of 16 Marcos played senior Ben Recknagel and defeated him 6-2 6-3. 

In the round of 16 in doubles Dennis Mkrtchian teamed up with Warren Hardie (who left the team this quarter) and defeated the team of Gryaznov/Bouillin (UCSB) 7-6. 

Tomorrow should be an interesting match as the team will begin their quest towards the coveted national championship. Check back here or on the twitter page for the lineups and behind the scenes action tomorrow.   

Sherwood Collegiate Cup Wrap Up

The finals of doubles and singles at Sherwood both saw bruins and trojans in action

The singles final was Junior Captain Adrien Puget v. Junior Ray Sarmiento (USC)

This was a tightly contested match that ended up favoring SC 4-6,6-3,7-5. Not a bad showing from Adrien considering it was first taste of competition since nationals in Athens, GA last year.

The doubles final featured Sophomores Dennis Novikov and Marcos Giron vs. Eric Johnson and Emilio Gomez (USC)

This match was also very tightly contested as the scoreline states but ended up favoring the Bruins 8-7 (4).

No doubt a great showing from the bruins and a good warmup to the start of the season

Day 3

Boys are up early got a hit with some mission hills club members this morning

Got some croquet in with Monica and David

Golfing in the afternoon!

Wrapping up the day with Mamma Gina’s

And I’m Back!

Sorry for the large gap in between posts! I’m finally back from the usual recovery routine after finals week.

The boys are all in the holiday mode and back home.

So here are some Team News Updates:

-Unfortunately, Senior Warren Hardie has decided to step down from the team to pursue and focus on his career aspirations. I am really going to miss the spirit and energy that he contributed to our team’s dynamic. I wish him all the best!

-All the boys are off the DL list and have been practicing: Clay, Adrien, and Novikov

I know it is long past signing day, but I just wanted to introduce the new recruiting class for the 2014 season.

-Mackie McDonald (Piedmont, CA): A top US junior who arguably had his best performance at the 2012 Junior Australian Open, where he reached a spot in the semifinals. Mackie plays a great all around game, and has the most international experience among the three recruits. That experience will surely help him as he transitions into college tennis. His backhand and volleys, I believe, are some of the most technically sound and best parts of his game. Coming from a line of bruin faithful, I know that Mackie is going to carry the bruin spirit when he comes to UCLA next year.

Photo courtesy of Wilson Tennis 

-Gage Brymer (Irvine, CA): Another top US junior who has really dominated the California high school tennis scene while competing for University High School. His resume includes two CIF singles titles and three consecutive CIF D1 team titles, with hopes for a final one this year. The team dynamic he experienced in high school will no doubt be an advantage for him as he moves into college tennis. With his impeccable footwork, huge forehand, and big baseline game he will no doubt be a great addition to the bruin tennis family.

Photo courtesy of OC Register. 

-Joseph (Joe) DiGiulio (Newport Beach, CA): Joe’s resume includes being ranked as high as number 1 in the nation in both the 14s and 16s divisions. His most recent tournament win was a doubles championship with USC commit Robbie Bellamy at the SoCal Sectionals. Joe has consistently stayed at the top of the USTA Junior program his entire life. Although I have not had the opportunity to see Joe play, from what I have heard he plays strong and solid off both wings. His consistency and sheer will to win at any stage I believe will translate effectively as he begins his college tennis career.

Photo courtesy of Colette Lewis

Although the 2013 season has yet to kickoff I am really excited to see the 2014 team with the addition of these there blue chip recruits. These three boys will be nothing short of a great addition to the bruin tennis family and I am no doubt excited to work with them next year.

MG, ITA Southwest Regional Champ

Big congratulations to sophomore Marcos Giron for winning the ITA Southwest Regional Qualfying this past weekend at UCI. Marcos did not drop a set in route to his championship. Marcos was unable to compete in this tournament last year because of the wrist he injured in All-Americans the tournament before. Great to see him off to a good start this year! The finals features him and his teammate and former roommate and Dennis Mkrtchian. With this win Marcos earns a bid into the prestigious ITA national indoors tournament in Flushing Meadows, NY.

Go bruins!

Costa Mesa Futures Roundup

The Costa Mesa Pro Classic Futures tournament was a successful showing from the Bruins.

Qualifying Draw:

-Dennis Novikov was defeated in the third round of qualifying by Xavier Smith.

-Clay Thompson lost in the final round of qualifying to Axel Llamas.

-Ryoto Tachi fell to the number 8 seed Ryan Thacher in qualifying.

Main Draw:

 

-Dennis Mkrtchian qualified but lost to the number 8 seed Jason Jung. 7-6 (5) 6-1

-Marcos Giron also qualified and made a run to the quarterfinals before falling to number 7 seed Jeff Dadamo. 6-3 6-4

-Recent graduate and team captain Nick Meister, who was seeded 6 in the tournament and lost to Daniel Ngyuen in the Quarterfinals. 6-4 6-4

-Nick’s loss would later be avenged in the next round when former Bruin Daniel Kosakowski defeated Nguyen and eventually took the tournament. DK  defeated Jeff Dadamo in the finals 6-4 7-5.