There is a first time for everything.
Unfortunately for the Aggies, this is the first time all season they have owned a record below .500.
UC Davis saw its season record fall to 8-10 after suffering two weekend defeats to Big West Conference foes UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly. More significantly, the losses dropped the team’s conference record to 1-3.
Saturday – No. 56 UC Santa Barbara 6, UC Davis 1
Points were scarce for the Aggies on Saturday.
In total, UC Davis only managed to claim two sets against the nationally ranked Gauchos in a 6-1 loss.
“We fought hard, we played well – just not well enough to pull off the upset,” senior Daniel Elefant said. “They are one of the best teams in the Big West.”
Santa Barbara started things off by sweeping the Aggies in doubles, garnering a 1-0 lead going into singles play.
UC Davis avoided being swept by the Gauchos as Elefant managed the only Aggie victory of the afternoon, defeating Alexander Konigsfeldt 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6).
Aside from Elefant’s close victory, the Aggies lost all other singles spots in straight sets.
Saturday – Cal Poly 6, UC Davis 1
Both schools may have equine mascots, but the Mustangs proved to be the thoroughbreds of Saturday afternoon.
For the second straight day, the Aggies were swept in doubles and fell in five of six singles matches in a 6-1 road conference loss, this time to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
“I feel like we played better against Cal Poly and that the match was a bit closer, although in the end, it was the same score as Saturday,” Elefant said.
Once again Elefant claimed the only Aggie victory of the day, defeating Robert Foy, 6-1, 7-5, at the No. 5 spot.
While it was the team’s lone win, three sets were needed to decide two other matches.
Cal Poly freshman Blake Wardman slipped by Aggie sophomore Tyler Lee, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 1-0 (10-7).
Senior No. 3 Justin Garcia was also edged, falling to freshman Drew Jacobs, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0.
UC Davis returns to action on Friday when it hosts Portland State at the Marya Welch Tennis Center at 2 p.m.
Nirvair Kelley can be reached at sports@californiaaggie.com.
