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Bears Close Fall at Gael Classic in Moraga

by calbears.com
Oct 29, 2014

BERKELEY – In its last tournament of the fall, California takes part in the Gael Classic from Friday through Sunday at Saint Mary’s in Moraga, California.

Along with host Saint Mary’s and Cal, the following schools have players competing in the Gael Classic: Cal Poly, UC Davis, Denver, San Francisco, Pacific, Sacramento State, Sonoma State and Holy Names University. 

Scouting the Bears

  • Sophomore Andre Goransson reached a final in his second straight tournament, falling with junior Oskar Wikberg to USF’s Bernardo Saraiva and Nils Skajaa, 5-7, 6-3, 1-0(6), in the doubles final on Oct. 21 at the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships
  • Goransson also took second in the Battle in the Bay singles tournament earlier in October
  • Click here to read the Daily Californian’s Oct. 14 feature story on Goransson and his journey from Sweden to Berkeley
  • J.T. Nishimura advanced to the singles quarterfinals at the regional, falling to Stanford’s David Hsu, 6-4, 6-2, while fellow freshman Billy Griffith along with 81st-ranked junior Oskar Wikberg lost in the singles round of 16
  • Elsewhere in regional singles, junior Jordan Smith fell in the round of 128; juniors Hasier Pastor and Wyatt Houghton reached the round of 64; and senior Gregory Bayane, junior Mads Engsted and 120th-ranked sophomore Filip Bergevi exited in the round of 32
  • Cal’s seventh-ranked and top-seeded doubles team of Bayane and senior Chase Melton fell in an upset to Saraiva/Skajaa in the regional quarterfinals, 8-7(5)
  • Also in the regional doubles quarterfinals, the fifth-seeded tandem of junior Mads Engsted and sophomore Filip Bergevi lost to Washington’s second-seeded and 21st-ranked Emmett Egger/Jeffrey Hawke, 8-7(3)
  • Nishimura/Griffith fell in the in regional doubles round of 16
  • Two proud Cal alumni lead the Golden Bears: Peter Wright (class of ’91) is in his 22nd year as head coach, while associate head coach Tyler Browne (class of 2008) is in his seventh year on the staff

Poll Position

Cal claimed three rankings in the ITA preseason polls, with Gregory Bayane and Chase Melton earning the Bears’ highest mark – No. 7 – in the doubles poll. The No. 7 ranking is the highest of any Pac-12 doubles team in the preseason. Newcomer Oskar Wikberg – a junior transfer from Wisconsin – is ranked 81st and sophomore Filip Bergevi is ranked No. 120 in the ITA singles poll.

The ITA will release its first team rankings on Jan. 6.

Hellman Grand Opening

The Cal men’s and women’s tennis programs will host a grand opening of the Hellman Tennis Complex in late January to coincide with the start of the teams’ dual-match seasons. This will mark the first spring since the completion of the upgrades at the home of Golden Bear tennis. The upgrades include the following:

  • New building housing men’s and women’s team locker rooms, restrooms and showers.
  • New public restrooms for fans.
  • New elevated seating extending from court No. 1 to court No. 6.
  • New team lounge/academic room.

Please check CalBears.com in early January for more information.

Next Time

The Bears open 2015 in the San Diego Invitational from Jan. 9-11 in San Diego.

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