March 22, 2011
WACO, Texas- Playing in its first dual match in nearly a month, No. 8 Stanford dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 16 Baylor on Tuesday afternoon to open a challenging stretch that features three top-20 opponents over a five-day span.
Stanford (8-4, 0-0 Pac-10) was aiming for its first win against Baylor (11-3, 0-0 Big 12) in 11 tries. The recent meetings have been hard-fought, with Baylor prevailing by a 4-3 score in the two previous contests.
Making its first appearance on the court since participating in the Pacific Coast Doubles tourney earlier month, Stanford was facing a difficult opponent after the long layoff. The Cardinal was playing its first dual match since a 5-1 loss at USC back on Feb. 26.
Baylor went ahead 1-0 after capturing the doubles point, thanks to victories at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots. In a potential NCAA doubles title preview at the No. 1 position, Stanford's top pairing of sixth-ranked Bradley Klahn and Ryan Thacher clipped seventh-ranked John Peers and Roberto Maytin 9-8.
Roberto Maytin's 6-4, 6-3 win over Denis Lin on court four put Baylor in front 2-0, but a 6-3, 7-5 triumph from Thacher over Dennis Lengsfeld at the No. 3 spot briefly kept Stanford within striking distance at 3-1.
Baylor clinched the match at 4-1 when Peers upended Klahn 6-4, 7-6 at the top spot of the lineup.
Greg Hirshman wrapped up the match with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) win over Julian Bley at the No. 6 spot for the second Cardinal point. Playing at the No. 6 spot for the first time this year, Hirshman has posted a 7-2 record at the No. 5 position.
Stanford is back in action this weekend at home, hosting No. 3 USC on Friday, Mar. 25 (1:30 p.m.) and No. 13 UCLA on Saturday, Mar. 26 (1 p.m.).
No. 16 Baylor 5, No. 8 Stanford 2
DOUBLES
1) No. 6 Klahn/Thacher (STAN) d. No. 7 Peers/Maytin (BAY) 9-8 (6)
2) Ramirez/Jordan Rux (BAY) d. Kandath/Lin (STAN) 8-3
3) Bley/Grangeiro (BAY) d. No. 79 Clayton/Ted Kelly (STAN) 8-6
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1
SINGLES
1) No. 27 John Peers (BAY) d. No. 10 Bradley Klahn (STAN) 6-4, 7-6 (4)
2) Sergio Ramirez (BAY) d. No. 93 Alex Clayton (STAN) 7-5, 6-4
3) No. 36 Ryan Thacher (STAN) d. Dennis Lengsfeld (BAY) 6-3, 7-5
4) No. 96 Roberto Maytin (BAY) d. Denis Lin (STAN) 6-4, 6-3
5) No. 99 Kike Grangeiro (BAY) d. Matt Kandath (STAN) 7-5, 6-4
6) Greg Hirshman (STAN) d. Julian Bley (BAY) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4)
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3, 1, 2, 6