USD Men’s Tennis Claims 4-1 Victory Over Cal on Super Bowl Sunday
SAN DIEGO — The 11th-ranked men’s tennis team at the University of San Diego (USD) showcased an impressive performance by defeating the California Golden Bears 4-1 at the Hogan Tennis Center this past Sunday, coinciding with Super Bowl festivities.
Match Highlights
USD’s dominant play began with doubles matches, where the powerful duo of Stian Klaassen and Manvydas Balciunas delivered a flawless 6-0 victory on court two. Competing on the main court, USD’s Lambert Ruland and Adrien Berrut, ranked 69th nationally, secured the doubles point with a 6-3 win against Cal’s 70th-ranked pairing.
Singles Dominance
The Toreros continued their momentum into singles play. Klaassen, ranked 116th by the ITA, was particularly impactful, winning his match 6-1, 6-1 at the third position, effectively doubling USD’s lead. After a Cal player claimed a point from court two, Neo Niedner decisively responded with a straight-sets victory of 6-2, 6-2.
In a pivotal moment of the match, senior captain and multiple-time All-American Oliver Tarvet rallied back from a 1-4 deficit in the second set to clinch the match against former WCC rival Tiago Silva, finishing with scores of 6-2, 6-4.
Coach Ryan Keckley expressed pride in his team’s mental toughness while emphasizing the need for continual improvement.
Upcoming Match
Looking ahead, the Toreros (6-2) are set to visit UC Santa Barbara for their next bout on February 21, 2026, at 2 PM. This matchup promises to be an exciting contest against another formidable team.
For fans interested in the history between these two teams, detailed statistics can be found here.
Match Results Summary
Doubles Results
- Lambert Ruland / Adrien Berrut (USD) def. Tiago Silva / Timofey Stepanov (CAL) 6-3
- Stian Klaassen / Manvydas Balciunas (USD) def. Andrea Meduri / Fryderyk Lechno-Wasiutyski (CAL) 6-0
- Oliver Tarvet / Vincent Marysko (USD) vs. Alex Aney / Leonardo Cattaneo (CAL) 4-3, unfinished
Singles Results
- Oliver Tarvet (USD) def. Tiago Silva (CAL) 6-2, 6-4
- Fryderyk Lechno-Wasiutyski (CAL) def. Vincent Marysko (USD) 6-3, 6-2
- Manvydas Balciunas (USD) vs. Timofey Stepanov (CAL) 6-4, 4-4, unfinished
- Stian Klaassen (USD) def. Andrea Meduri (CAL) 6-1, 6-1
- Neo Niedner (USD) def. Bernardo Munk Mesa (CAL) 6-2, 6-2
- Adrien Berrut (USD) vs. Paris Pouatcha (CAL) 4-6, 3-4, unfinished
Final Score
#11 San Diego 4, California 1
With this robust showing against a competitive opponent, USD men’s tennis continues to solidify their position as a leading contender in collegiate athletics. Stay tuned for their next match against UC Santa Barbara — a crucial step in their campaign this season.
