Bruins raise heads after loss, conquer New Mexico easily

Thursday, February 4, 1999

Bruins raise heads after loss, conquer New Mexico easily

Roster changes help give UCLA boost; more switches on tap for
USC, UCI tournaments

By Dave Denicke

Daily Bruin Contributor

Once again it was business as usual for the men’s tennis team on
Tuesday, as the Bruins rebounded from a tough loss at Arizona State
on Saturday, to defeat No. 56 New Mexico, 6-1.

"I was happy that we came back after the disappointing loss to
ASU. Everybody had good energy on the court. That’s important,
because I didn’t want them to hang their head after that loss,"
said head coach Billy Martin.

However, not all of the usual suspects were on the court for the
match, as Martin shuffled the line-up in both singles and doubles.
Chris Sands and Jean-Noel Grinda, both of whom are left-handed,
played together at doubles. Jason Cook and Brandon Kramer were
promoted to the top slot.

Grinda and Sands’ victory clinched the doubles point after
Kramer and Cook, 5-0 in match play this year, responded with a
surprisingly easy win over the 10th ranked doubles tandem of Pepe
Caballero and Nicolas Dubey, 8-3.

"Winning the doubles point as a team is great, because that
momentum helps to fire up the team (for the singles)" said
Cook.

Martin also adjusted the singles draw, giving Marcin Rozpedski
and Noah Newman their first match experience in singles this year.
Each responded well, with straight set victories.

Rozpedski, a transfer from College of the Desert, made his UCLA
singles debut a memorable one, slamming New Mexico’s Michael
Polasek 6-1, 6-0. "I was very nervous because I knew I was going to
play my first singles match (for UCLA). I hope that I am going to
lift up my level of tennis and play a little higher (on the
team)."

Comparing the atmosphere at UCLA to College of the Desert,
Rozpedski said, "The guys are much closer to each other. It’s a
different world. I feel so blessed that I am here."

While Rozpedski marked his first singles victory, sophomore
Sands notched his fifth straight win, surviving a dramatic three
set match over Lobo Takeshi Itoh, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Sands is the only
Bruin to be undefeated in match play, going 2-0 in doubles
competition and 5-0 in singles competition.

UCLA’s third straight non-conference victory raised their record
this year to 4-1. The Bruins, currently ranked fifth in the nation,
take on No. 67 UC Irvine on Friday. Martin hinted at more roster
changes for that match.

"We’ll just have to see how the guys are feeling. No major
injuries, but we just want to make sure we’re healthy for the big
matches coming up."

The Anteaters enter Friday’s match against the Bruins with a 5-0
record. Doubles pair Chris Ma and Chris Chung are ranked 50th in
the nation, and Irvine’s top singles player Thomas Bohun is 5-0
this year. UCLA swept the match last year, and own the all-time
series record against Irvine, 25-2.

After Irvine, UCLA takes on San Diego next week, before
returning home next Friday to take on No. 15 USC.

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