Wins At Top Two Singles Spots Not Enough At No. 21 ASU

TEMPE, Ariz. – Clement Chidekh and Jack Davis grabbed wins at the Nos. 1 and 2 singles positions but 21st-ranked Arizona State took the remaining four spots plus the doubles point to earn a 5-2 Pac-12 win today at the Whiteman Tennis Center. The Huskies (4-5, 0-2 Pac-12) had two third set chances that could have swung the match but the Sun Devils (9-1, 2-0 Pac-12) pulled away early in both.
 
Chidekh quickly handed ASU's Nathan Ponwith just his second loss of the season at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-4, to tie the match at 1-1. It was an impressive response from the sophomore newcomer who suffered a heartbreaker on Friday for his first career loss in a third set tiebreak. Chidekh now sits at 8-1 after the win today.
 
65th-ranked Davis ended the day with a win at No. 2 over Tim Ruehl, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, for his first win over a Pac-12 opponent this season.

"While we improved in a number of areas, we weren't looking for a moral victory," said Head Coach Matt Anger. "The loss hurts. On the road, we can't let up or fall out of a game plan because it is so costly."

"I do believe our young guys are coming along though," Anger added.
 
Ewen Lumsden and Adam Torocsik each lost first sets but answered with second set wins to keep UW's hopes alive, but neither could make headway in their third sets. Lumsden dropped a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 decision at No. 3 singles to Andrea Bolla, while Torocsik fell at No. 6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-1.
 
Han-Chih Lin and Jack Pulliam both were at 5-5 in their first sets in singles but their ASU opponents broke late for the first sets and closed out in two.
 
Lin and Lumsden earned a 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles to start the match but Arizona State countered with 6-2 wins of its own at courts one and two to win the doubles point.
 
Washington will return to non-conference action next week back at home, taking on Portland State next Saturday, March 6, and Gonzaga on Sunday, March 7.
 
Husky Men's Tennis
February 28, 2021
Whiteman Tennis Center | Tempe, Ariz.
 
Washington – 2
No. 21 Arizona State – 5
 
Singles
1. Clement Chidekh (UW) def. Nathan Ponwith (ASU), 6-1, 6-4
2. (#65) Jack Davis (UW) def. Tim Ruehl (ASU), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Andrea Bolla (ASU) def. Ewen Lumsden (UW), 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
4. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Han-Chih Lin (UW), 7-5, 6-3
5. George Stoupe (ASU) def. Jack Pulliam (UW), 7-5, 6-4
6. Christian Lerby (ASU) def. Adam Torocsik (UW), 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
Order of finish: 1, 5, 4, 3, 6, 2
 
Doubles
1. Ponwith/Stoupe (ASU) def. Davis/Alvarez (UW), 6-2
2. Ruehl/Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Cancel/Chidekh (UW), 6-2
3. Lumsden/Lin (UW) def. Lerby/Hoffmann (ASU), 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2