FRESNO, Calif. - The FPU Men's Tennis team bounced back from a rough defeat last week to Hawai'i-Hilo with a smooth and steady non-conference clash with the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs Thursday afternoon at the Haak Tennis Complex.  The Sunbirds came out on top 5-2 to improve their season record to 8-5.  Earlier this week, the Sunbirds moved up to #26 in the NCAA D-II national rankings.

In a week where the sweltering Fresno summer heat began making an early appearance, it was a more mild afternoon The doubles point was quickly captured thanks to a pair of 6-3 wins from Nos. 1 and 3 doubles duos of Ben Cronau & Sven Bangert and Ravi Nelson & Cedric Kaufman, respectively.  Martin Ramirez and Gregor Kliimask were also victorious in No. 2 doubles with a 6-2 win.  

The remaining four points for the victors all came in straight sets.  Kliimask quickly knocked off his opponent in No. 3 singles by not giving up a game to win 6-0, 6-0 for the second point.  Then over in No. 2 singles it was Ramirez who was efficient and effective in a 6-3, 6-0 win for the third point.

The Banana Slugs applied pressure, down 3-0, to take leads in Nos. 4 and 5 singles against Emilio Seelbach and Bangert, respectively.  But the match-clinching point that was needed came on court No. 6 when Cronau dispatched his opponent 6-2, 6-4.  Nelson wrapped up the contest with a hard-fought yet straight set 6-1, 6-4 win in No. 1 singles.  It was a great rebound for Coach Sam Gaeddert's men after a letdown against Hilo that followed back-to-back wins over nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa and MSU Denver.  


UP NEXT

The 'Birds have the next eight days off before facing off with Jessup next Friday at the Haak Tennis Complex.  The first PacWest Conference rankings were released earlier this week, and the nationally-ranked #26 Sunbirds sit firmly as the 4 seed in the upcoming PacWest Tennis Championships.  

SUNBIRD SOCIAL 

X - @fpusunbirds 
Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
Facebook - /FPUsunbirds 

#TeamFPU