ASU Men’s Tennis: Sun Devils Shake Off Early Season Rust in Strong Win over Pepperdine

(Photo: Alex Roddier/WCSN)

Arizona State didn’t start the 2019 season in the greatest fashion, dropping three of its first four matches with its lone victory coming by way of forfeit against Loyola Marymount. But against Pepperdine on Saturday at the Whiteman Tennis Center  in Tempe, the Sun Devils found their groove.

The team capitalized early on, clinching the doubles point followed by three straight singles victories to clinch a 4-0 victory. However, both schools decided to play out the remaining singles matches, and ASU took home a 7-0 win over the Waves in its first home match of the season.

The ASU doubles tandem of sophomores Tim Ruehl and William Kirkman made quick work of the Waves’ pair of senior Scotland Garapedian and junior Pawel Jankowiak, dominating 6-1. The Sun Devils continued to battle on courts one and two and it was the Sun Devils’ junior team of Dominik Kellovsky and Nathan Ponwith that eventually clinched the doubles point, defeating junior Adrian Oetzbach and freshman Tim Zeitvogel 6-3.

The dominant showing from ASU’s doubles has been a constant theme though the start of the year. The team improved to 5-0 in doubles play this season.

“It takes the pressure off a little,” junior Makey Rakotomalala said. “We know after that point we only need to win three singles matches. It’s always great to start 1-0 to boost the confidence.”

In all three losses this season, ASU secured the doubles point, but failed to complete the win. Two times this season the Sun Devils have pushed out to a 3-0 lead, only to have it squandered and fall 4-3 (losses to Duke and No. 20 Oklahoma State).

This time around, that wasn’t the case. In fact, ASU rattled off three straight wins to start singles play, clinching the victory with an overall dominant singles performance.

Rakotomala blew past Garapedian in straight sets 6-1, 6-0, while his doubles partner, graduate transfer Justin Roberts clinched the overall victory with a straight set win over Zeitvogel 6-4, 6-2.

“That was huge,” ASU coach Matt Hill said. “We really expect a lot from our guys at the top. We have unbelievable players at the top, they play aggressive and their style reflects it.”

From the top court, Kellovsky defeated Oetzbach in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Meanwhile, ASU’s court two and three singles finished out the day with a pair of victories.

With the victory, Kellovsky took home both his first collegiate win, and victory over a ranked opponent as Oetzbach is No. 53 in the Oracle/ITA rankings.

“It was great to get it after my last couple matches went three sets and I couldn’t close,” Kellovsky said. “I’m really happy to have a win on my side and we all played great today, it was a great start for the team.”

Following the win, the Sun Devils hit the road next weekend to face No. 2 Ohio State on Friday and Indiana on Sunday.

Match Results:

ASU vs. Pepperdine (4-0 win; 7-0 overall)

Doubles

1. Dominik Kellovsky/Nathan Ponwith (ASU) def. Adrian Oetzbach/Tim Zeitvogel (Pepperdine) – 6-3^
2. Justin Roberts/Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) vs. Matias Sborowitz/Enrique Ouque Rico (Pepperdine) – 5-4 (susp.)
3. Tim Ruehl/William Kirkman (ASU) def. Scotland Garapedian/Pawel Jankowiak (Pepperdine) – 6-1

Order of finish: 3, 1^, 2 (susp.)

^Clinched doubles point

Singles

1. Dominik Kellovsky (ASU) def. No. 53 Adrian Oetzbach (Pepperdine) – 6-4, 6-4
2. Nathan Ponwith (ASU) def. Enrique Ouque Rico (Pepperdine)– 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 7-5
3. Tim Ruehl (ASU) def. Matias Sborowitz (Pepperdine) – 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Justin Roberts (ASU) def. Tim Zeitvogel (Pepperdine) ­– 6-4, 6-2*
5. Makey Rakotomalala (ASU) def. Scotland Garapedian (Pepperdine) – 6-1, 6-0
6. William Kirkman (ASU) def. Felipe Galvao (Pepperdine) – 6-3, 6-1

Order of finish: 5, 6, 4*, 1, 3, 2

*Clinched victory

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