Huskies Fall In NCAA First Round To No. 26 Waves
COLUMBIA, S.C. – It was a memorable run to reach the NCAA tournament, but the Huskies weren't able to stay as long as they'd like. 40th-ranked Washington (18-12) concluded its season today with a first round loss to 26th-ranked Pepperdine, by a 4-0 score, at the Carolina Tennis Center in Columbia, South Carolina.
It was Washington's first tournament appearance since 2017, achieved in part by a first-ever run to the Pac-12 tournament final two weeks ago, where the Dawgs became the first No. 8-seed to reach the semis and the final. Washington was looking for some more upsets in Columbia, but the Waves (18-7) were too tough today. They will advance to face the winner of the 10th-seeded hosts from South Carolina, and South Carolina State.
"We came out and we played hard," said Head Coach Matt Anger, leading his 22nd team to the NCAA tournament. "I don't know if it was Pepperdine or us but we allowed ourselves to get out of our game when it would get to deuce points and bigger points in the set. They were more consistent. They played more solid on those points. We had opportunities but we weren't able to capitalize. It's tough. I'm hurting. I'm really proud of how our freshmen came along and improved on the road during the season. At the end of the year it's tough for the guys and the seniors. But I'm glad we were back in the tournament and the young guys could get a taste of it and want more."
Playing their final matches for the Dawgs today were seniors Jack Davis and Ewen Lumsden. Davis, a fifth-year senior, finishes 10th in school history with 147 combined singles and doubles wins. Lumsden, in his fourth year at UW, also amassed 101 combined singles and doubles victories in a great Husky career.
The Huskies were chasing Pepperdine early in doubles, down breaks on all three courts. At No. 3, Cesar Bouchelaghem and Brandon Wong broke back to get even at 4-4, but UW couldn't break back on the top two courts. 23rd-ranked Jack Davis and Ewen Lumsden fell, 6-4, to De Jonge and Vasa on court one. Then Clement Chidekh and Nedim Suko lost a 6-2 decision on court two against Summaria and Rogers to clinch.
Pepperdine kept the momentum going with first set wins on five of the six singles courts. Chidekh took his first set against 24th-ranked Danie De Jonge, 6-4, but UW would need rallies at several spots down the line.
Ewen Lumsden and Nedim Suko were both up or even late in their second sets, trying to force a third, and Chidekh was two games away from UW's first point, but Pepperdine was able to close out and stop the matches with a clincher on court five. Corrado Summaria topped Bouchelaghem, 6-4, 6-2, for the fourth point. That came after a win on two from 67th-ranked Tim Zeitvogel over Jack Davis, 6-2, 6-2, and then a 6-1, 6-1 win on court four as Han-Chih Lin fell to Enrique Luque Rico.
Chidekh was leading, 6-4, 4-3 on court one. Lumsden was at 3-6, 4-3, against No. 93 Andrew Rogers, and Suko was at 5-5 in his second set after dropping the first, 4-6, against Eero Vasa on six.
Clement Chidekh still will take part in the NCAA Singles Championship in a couple weeks in Illinois, where he will be a No. 9-16 seed.
Washington Men's Tennis
NCAA Championships – First Round
May 6, 2022
Carolina Tennis Center | Columbia, S.C.
#40 Washington – 0
#26 Pepperdine – 4
Singles
1. (#8) Clement Chidekh (UW) vs. (#24) Daniel de Jonge (Pepp) – 6-4, 4-3, DNF
2. (#67) Tim Zeitvogel (Pepp) def. Jack Davis (UW) – 6-2, 6-2
3. Ewen Lumsden (UW) vs. (#93) Andrew Rogers (Pepp) – 3-6, 4-3, DNF
4. Enrique Luque Rico (Pepp) def. Han-Chih Lin (UW) – 6-1, 6-1
5. Corrado Summaria (Pepp) def. Cesar Bouchelaghem (UW) – 6-4, 6-2
6. Nedim Suko (UW) vs. Eero Vasa (Pepp) – 4-6, 5-5, DNF
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5
Doubles
1. (#72) De Jonge/Vasa (Pepp) def. (#23) Davis/Lumsden (UW) – 6-4
2. Summaria/Rogers (Pepp) def. Chidekh/Suko (UW) – 6-2
3. Bouchelaghem/Wong (UW) vs. Luque Rico/Zeitvogel (Pepp) – 4-5, DNF
Order of Finish: 1, 2