Men's tennis finishes disappointing season with another loss

Brian D. Rothschild Arizona Daily Wildcat UA freshman Jose "Pepe" Devercelli returns a volley in a match. Devercelli lost his match in three sets to Arizona State's Casey Waas. The Wildcats were snipped 4-3 in the dual.

The Wildcats lost yet another close 4-3 decision at Robson Tennis Center, however, this time it was to state rival Arizona State.

"This is just devastating," UA head coach Bill Wright said. "We needed a win to get into regionals and I think our chances are really slim now."

Saturday's loss marked the third time in the last four matches that Arizona lost 4-3. In two of the matches, including the loss to the Sun Devils, the Wildcats were ahead after doubles play. That doubles point was the only bright spot Saturday.

"This was by far the best doubles we've played all year," Wright said.

"It was a great effort by everyone, which is what college tennis is all about."

The Wildcats (5-14 overall, 0-10 in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division) were unable to win three of the singles matches to upset the Sun Devils.

Senior Henrik Wagner met Sergio Elias in the top position. After a close first set in which Elias came out on top, 7-6, Wagner's game became emotional.

After a point when Wagner was down 3-0 in the second set, he yelled out of frustration that Elias, who is not even a nationally ranked player, was unplayable.

"You have to be a Pete Sampras to play him," said Wagner after losing the point.

The Sun Devils tied the match at three points each after ASU senior Alex Ostereith defeated senior Roland Kupka, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, leaving the fate of the match on an underclassmen battle on court six.

Freshman Jose "Pepe" Devercelli and ASU's Casey Waas, a sophomore, were tied at three games in the third set with Devercelli serving. Devercelli had won the first set, 7-6, but lost the second, 5-7.

The freshman was down 40-30 and Waas called Devercelli's serve out. Devercelli disagreed and asked the umpire to overrule it. In the process of arguing the call, the umpire awarded Wass a penalty point after Devercelli said, "Goddamn it," giving Waas the game and the set.

Devercelli, who was playing in just his eighth singles match of the season, couldn't overcome the defecit.

"I fought as hard as I could, but I wasn't able to get back the lead," Devercelli said.

Once Waas sealed the Sun Devils' victory with a 6-4 score in the third set, his teammates quickly rushed over and dumped the water cooler over his back.

"It was pretty cool," Waas said a few minutes after the win. "We did it to coach the other day so it was fun."

The loss, Arizona's 11th-straight, was especially hard to take because it was more than likely its last match of the season.

"This loss kind of sealed our fate, so it's been hard for everyone," said Wright, who leaned his head against the fence with his wife by his side after the loss. "We all looked forward to regionals so much and you could just see it slipping away."