Bulldog Men’s Tennis overpowers Whittier College 8-1

Image Credit: Ron Stephany
Image Credit: Ron Stephany
Posted: Mar 31, 2023

WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Tennis team was too much for Whittier College Friday afternoon as they rolled to the 8-1 victory on the road improving to 7-5, 2-0 SCIAC.

The Bulldogs managed to get a head in the match quickly taking two of three doubles before sweeping singles action. 

Jack Mattox (Mercer Island, WA) and Josh Davydov (Bellevue, WA) paired up for the first time this season at No. 2 and what a match they played rolling 8-2.  Nils Plutat (Sauerlach, Bavaria, Germany) and Bryce Keim (Spartanburg, S.C.) followed with a sound 8-5 win at the top spot as they continue to prove why they are one of the top duos in Division III.  The last match on came at No. 3 from first-years Michael Dudley (Baton Rouge, LA) and Omar Khayat (Irvine, CA) who competed for the first time together.  They faced a tough pair in Luke Van der Hoek and Kieran Carroll falling 8-3. 

Holding that slight edge going into singles the Bulldogs ran away with the match quickly with Plutat rolling 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1, followed by Davydov winning in straights 6-3, 7-5 at No. 5.  The clinch came at No. 3 from Mattox who used a break in each set to take out Carroll 6-2, 6-3.  Leading 5-1 the Maroon and Grey kept the foot on the gas pedal with Donovan Lilov (San Diego, CA) cruising at No. 4 6-3, 6-2, while first-year Luca Davidorf (Atlanta, GA) would come from a set down to take out Ahmed Amer 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6.

The last match on was at No. 2 between Keim and 2022 SCIAC Newcomer of the Year Spencer Cinco.  It was a re-match between these two from the ITA Division III West Regional where Keim was forced to come from behind to pull out the win.  The second time around also did not disappoint with both players splitting sets, both coming in tiebreakers.  The match then came down to a ten-point tiebreaker and was deadlocked at 9-9 before Cinco was forced to retire with an ankle injury.  Keim grabbed the eighth point on the afternoon again coming from behind to win 6-7 (4), 7-6 (6), 9-9 (Ret.).     

Redlands now has to prepare for a tough match-up with No. 3 Claremont-M-S tomorrow, Saturday, April 1 beginning at 3:00pm inside the Verdieck Tennis Center.