BERKELEY, Calif. – No. 2 Stanford improved to 10-1 on the season with a 4-1 victory over No. 36 California in the Big Slam at Hellman Tennis Complex Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinal jumped out to an early lead by capturing the doubles point with a 6-3 win by Tom Fawcett and Axel Geller at No. 2 and a 6-2 victory by Timothy Sah and David Wilczynski at No. 3.
The schools traded points early on in singles with Wilczynski dropping just four games en route to the win at No. 5. Cal's No. 1 player, Billy Griffith, got a point back with a win over Fawcett.
Sophomore William Genesen improved to 4-2 in dual action and more importantly put Stanford ahead for good with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win at No. 6.
Geller, the No. 36 ranked singles player in the nation, provided the clincher with a hard-fought 7-6(9), 2-6, 6-3 win at No. 2 to improve to 9-1 in dual action this season.
Several members of the Cardinal will compete in the Pacific Coast Doubles tournament in La Jolla, California, next weekend, before dual play resumes against Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona March 8.
No. 2 Stanford 4, No. 36 California 1
Doubles
1. No. 36 Michael Genender/Sameer Kumar (STAN) vs. No. 30 Billy Griffith/J.T. Nishimura (Cal) 5-3 unfinished
2. No. 27 Tom Fawcett/Axel Geller (STAN) d. Ben Draper/Jack Molloy (Cal) 6-3
3. Timothy Sah/David Wilczynski (STAN) d. Dominic Barretto/Can Kaya (Cal) 6-2
Order of Finish: 2,3
Singles
1. No. 79 Billy Griffith (Cal) d. No. 14 Tom Fawcett (STAN) 6-4, 7-6(4)
2. No. 32 Axel Geller (STAN) d. J.T. Nishimura (Cal) 7-6(9), 2-6, 6-3
3. No. 91 Sameer Kumar (STAN) vs. Jack Molloy (Cal) 7-5, 1-6, 5-4 Unfinished
4. No. 120 Eric Fomba (STAN) vs. Paul Barretto (Cal) 3-6, 6-4, 5-3 Unfinished
5. David Wilczynski (STAN) d. Jacob Brumm (Cal) 6-2, 6-2
6. William Genesen (STAN) d. Ben Draper (Cal) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Order of Finish: 5,1,6,2