Sophomore Zixiao Li (Coppell, Texas / Coppell) and freshman Miha Valencic (Colleyville, Texas / Grapevine) picked up individual victories as the Caltech men’s tennis team came up short to visiting Sewanee: University of the South, 7-2, in Wednesday’s afternoon match. Sewanee is the 23rd-ranked team in the nation. Neither Caltech victory came easily. Both Li […]
Sophomore Zixiao Li (Coppell, Texas / Coppell) and freshman Miha Valencic (Colleyville, Texas / Grapevine) picked up individual victories as the Caltech men’s tennis team came up short to visiting Sewanee: University of the South, 7-2, in Wednesday’s afternoon match. Sewanee is the 23rd-ranked team in the nation.
Neither Caltech victory came easily. Both Li and Valencic came from behind to split opening sets with their opponents and went on to seal their victories in super-tiebreakers. Li defeated Davis Owen, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 and Valencic defeated Jordan Brewer, 1-6, 6-6, 10-4.
In addition to the Beavers picking up victories at four and five singles, senior Ruthwick Pathireddy (Irvine, Calif. / Whitney) gave Avery Schober, the 24th-ranked player in the nation all he could handle in the top singles slot. After dropping a close first set 4-6, Pathireddy rallied in the second set, 6-2, to force the super tiebreaker. The back-and-forth decisive segment of the match ended with Schober edging Pathireddy, 11-9.
Head Coach Mandy Gamble and the Beavers (3-4 overall, 1-1 SCIAC) will be back at home this Sunday, Mar. 26 when they host the University of California, Santa Cruz Banana Slugs at 11 a.m.
