REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Tennis team put together a late comeback Tuesday afternoon against No. 13 Caltech but it would it come up short 5-4 at the Verdieck Tennis Center.
Redlands moves back to .500 at 7-7, 2-2 SCIAC and have now dropped two straight and three of their last four.
The Maroon and Grey fell behind 3-0 after doubles but would regroup in singles to claim four of six matches. But the comeback would come up short as the Beavers would hold on for the road win.
The Bulldogs had their chances in doubles with the top two spots going the distance, but being edged in tiebreakers. Nils Plutat (Sauerlach, Bavaria, Germany) and Bryce Keim (Spartanburg, S.C.) saw their doubles run come to a close as they would fall 8-7 (5) at No. 1 and Stefan Hester (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA), who made his return to the lineup paired up with Jack Mattox (Mercer Island, WA) at No. 2 also dropping a tight 8-7 (8) decision. The final duo were first-years Michael Dudley (Baton Rouge, LA) and Tyler Pyle (Lake Oswego, OR) at No. 3 who were edged 8-5 allowing CIT to come away with the early sweep.
Caltech picked up the first two points in singles as they would grab the clinch quickly. Mattox would fall at No. 4 6-0, 6-2 and Josh Davydov (Bellevue, WA) would come into the lineup at No. 6 only to fall 6-3, 6-4. The last four matches on would go to the Maroon and Grey three of which would need straight sets and the last going the distance.
Plutat remains a tough out at No. 1 as he again pulled out a huge win against a nationally ranked player winning 6-4, 6-3 over 2022 2nd Team All-SCIAC performer Kyle McCandless. Hester followed at No. 2 also with a straight sets win over 2022 1st Team All-SCIAC player Ishaan Kannan pulling out a 6-4, 7-6 (8) win. Keim grabbed a break in each set at No. 3 to give UR their third point 6-3, 7-5 and Donovan Lilov (San Diego, CA) who came into the lineup at No. 5 would pull out a three-setter to get Redlands within a point. He came away with the first set 7-6 (4), was broken in the second at 6-3 but would find a way to take the breaker 10-4.
Redlands travels this Saturday, April 8 for a match-up with Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 10:00am.