Saturday, January 25
Cambridge, Mass.
1:00 PM
Texas A&M
4
vs
3
UCLA
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Photo by: Ishika Samant/Texas A&M Athletics
No. 13 Aggies Claim Nail-biter Against UCLA to Advance to ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship
Jan 25, 2025 | Men's Tennis
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 13 Texas A&M men's tennis team caged the No. 21 UCLA Bruins, 4-3, on the opening day of ITA Kickoff Weekend to advance to the finals against host Harvard at the Murr Center on Saturday.
The Aggies (2-0) opened strong in doubles, with No. 48 duo Luke Casper and Togan Tokac taking down No. 10 duo Aadarsh Tripathi/Alexander Hoogmartens on court 1, 6-1. UCLA (1-2) found its momentum and claimed the next two doubles matches to secure the point.
The Maroon & White turned the tables with Giulio Perego making quick work of #93 Tripathi on court 6, 6-2, 6-2.
Theo Papamalamis put the Aggies ahead of the Bruins after claiming his first ranked win against No. 13 Spencer Johnson on court 1, 6-3, 6-1.
Luke Casper put the Aggies a point away from the win after taking down Kaylan Bigun on court 3, 6-4, 6-3.
UCLA found its rhythm and claimed the next two singles wins against Tiago Pires and Togan Tokac, knotting the score at 3-3.
Veteran JC Roddick clinched the match to advance the Aggies to the championship after winning a three-set thriller against #50 Rudy Quan on court 2, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
The No. 2 seeded Aggies face No. 23 Harvard in its home territory for the championship round on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Fans can watch tomorrow's matches through the live stream or on Cracked Racquets or can follow along with live stats.
COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Steve Denton on the teams' grit…
"Today was a good college tennis match. I thought UCLA played excellent doubles today and put us behind the eight-ball. I thought our experience helped us with our seniors responding very well in singles. Theo Papamalamis, our freshman sensation, played lights out today. JC Roddick has been working very hard on his game and responded with a gritty three-set win in the decider."
Denton on continuing the momentum in the championship tomorrow…
"I could not be happier for this team with today's win. We do have a quick turnaround tomorrow and we will need to be razor sharp against a capacity home crowd and a very good Harvard team if we expect to advance."
Match Results
Singles Results
Theo Papamalamis (TAMU) def. #13 Spencer Johnson (UCLA) 6-3, 6-1
#60 JC Roddick (TAMU) def. #50 Rudy Quan (UCLA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Luke Casper (TAMU) def. Kaylan Bigun (UCLA) 6-4, 6-3
#82 Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Tiago Pires (TAMU) 6-2, 6-3
Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) def. Togan Tokac (TAMU) 6-4, 6-3
Giulio Perego (TAMU) def. #93 Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 1, 3, 4, 5, 2
Double Results
#48 Luke Casper/Togan Tokac (TAMU) def. #10 Aadarsh Tripathi/Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) 6-1
Spencer Johnson/Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Theo Papamalamis/JC Roddick (TAMU) 6-2
Kaylan Bigun/Rudy Quan (UCLA) def. Matthis Ross/Tiago Pires (TAMU) 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
The Aggies (2-0) opened strong in doubles, with No. 48 duo Luke Casper and Togan Tokac taking down No. 10 duo Aadarsh Tripathi/Alexander Hoogmartens on court 1, 6-1. UCLA (1-2) found its momentum and claimed the next two doubles matches to secure the point.
The Maroon & White turned the tables with Giulio Perego making quick work of #93 Tripathi on court 6, 6-2, 6-2.
Theo Papamalamis put the Aggies ahead of the Bruins after claiming his first ranked win against No. 13 Spencer Johnson on court 1, 6-3, 6-1.
Luke Casper put the Aggies a point away from the win after taking down Kaylan Bigun on court 3, 6-4, 6-3.
UCLA found its rhythm and claimed the next two singles wins against Tiago Pires and Togan Tokac, knotting the score at 3-3.
Veteran JC Roddick clinched the match to advance the Aggies to the championship after winning a three-set thriller against #50 Rudy Quan on court 2, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
The No. 2 seeded Aggies face No. 23 Harvard in its home territory for the championship round on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Fans can watch tomorrow's matches through the live stream or on Cracked Racquets or can follow along with live stats.
COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Steve Denton on the teams' grit…
"Today was a good college tennis match. I thought UCLA played excellent doubles today and put us behind the eight-ball. I thought our experience helped us with our seniors responding very well in singles. Theo Papamalamis, our freshman sensation, played lights out today. JC Roddick has been working very hard on his game and responded with a gritty three-set win in the decider."
Denton on continuing the momentum in the championship tomorrow…
"I could not be happier for this team with today's win. We do have a quick turnaround tomorrow and we will need to be razor sharp against a capacity home crowd and a very good Harvard team if we expect to advance."
Match Results
Singles Results
Theo Papamalamis (TAMU) def. #13 Spencer Johnson (UCLA) 6-3, 6-1
#60 JC Roddick (TAMU) def. #50 Rudy Quan (UCLA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
Luke Casper (TAMU) def. Kaylan Bigun (UCLA) 6-4, 6-3
#82 Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Tiago Pires (TAMU) 6-2, 6-3
Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) def. Togan Tokac (TAMU) 6-4, 6-3
Giulio Perego (TAMU) def. #93 Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 1, 3, 4, 5, 2
Double Results
#48 Luke Casper/Togan Tokac (TAMU) def. #10 Aadarsh Tripathi/Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) 6-1
Spencer Johnson/Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Theo Papamalamis/JC Roddick (TAMU) 6-2
Kaylan Bigun/Rudy Quan (UCLA) def. Matthis Ross/Tiago Pires (TAMU) 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Media Availability: Steve Denton
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Baylor Postgame: Steve Denton, Theo Papamalamis, Alan Magadan
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Rice Postgame: Togan Tokac
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