Men's tennis bucked by Santa Clara Broncos

BOX SCORE: at Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The Northern Colorado men’s tennis team suffered another defeat on Sunday, March 15, this time a 7-0 setback to nonconference team Santa Clara.

The Bears (2-13, 1-5) started the match off strong, getting a No. 3 doubles-victory when Andre Lepine and Clay Mundell defeated SC’s Charlie Burke and John Iwanski, 8-4.

The win was the Bears' first victory at No. 3 doubles this season.

Northern Colorado failed to win the doubles point, though, after NC’s No. 1 doubles tandem of Adam Perez and Calix Van Lier were defeated in a close 9-8 (9-7) loss to SC’s Jay Wong and Kenzo Hirakawa-Wong.

The Bears were then swept in all six singles matches, despite strong efforts from NC’s Andy Green (No. 5) and Lepine (No. 6).

Green made a furious comeback against SC’s Burke but couldn’t hold a crucial service game in the second set and fell 6-3, 7-5.

Lepine fought hard against Iwanski but couldn’t fight back from early breaks in each set and was defeated 6-3, 6-4.

The Bears will face Big Sky opponent Sacramento State at 1 p.m. Monday, March 16, in hopes of keeping their Big Sky Championship tournament hopes alive.