PASADENA, CA - In their second straight weekend of competition to start the season, the Caltech men's tennis team dropped a 7-2 decision to Hope International on Saturday.

The Beavers No. 1 doubles team of Devashish Joshi and Luka Mernik won their eight-game pro-set match 8-6. However, the Royals won at the second and third doubles position in taking a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

Caltech got a hard fought win by Rushikesh Joshi at the No. 2 spot. His first collegiate win came in a three-set thriller. He won the first set in a tiebreaker but fell in the second set. In the decisive 10-point super tiebreaker he pulled out a 10-8 win.

Mernik also played a three-set match. After losing the first set 6-4, the junior fought back to win the second stanza 6-4. His comeback fell short as he dropped the super tiebreaker in the final frame 10-4.

Hope International won the remaining singles matches in straight sets.

Tennis Match Results
Hope International vs Caltech
02/09/2013 at Pasadena, CA
(Braun Tennis Courts)
Hope International 7, Caltech 2

Singles competition
1. OWENS, John-Douglas (HIU) def. Devashish Joshi (CALTECHM) 6-4, 6-4
2. Rushikesh Joshi (CALTECHM) def. CORREA, Enzo (HIU) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 10-8
3. BARNARD, Jake (HIU) def. Luka Mernik (CALTECHM) 6-4, 4-6, 10-4
4. PIRES, Leonardo (HIU) def. Alex Henny (CALTECHM) 6-3, 6-2
5. BRITO, Thiago (HIU) def. Brian Kim (CALTECHM) 6-4, 6-0
6. McDONALD, Tyler (HIU) def. JD Co-Reyes (CALTECHM) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Devashish Joshi/Luka Mernik (CALTECHM) def. PIRES, Leonardo/OWENS, John-Douglas (HIU) 8-6
2. BRITO, Thiago/CORREA, Enzo (HIU) def. Amol Kamat/Rushikesh Joshi (CALTECHM) 8-1
3. BARNARD, Jake/McDONALD, Tyler (HIU) def. JD Co-Reyes/Ishan Mehta (CALTECHM) 8-5

Match Notes:
Hope International 1-1
Caltech 0-2
Official: N/A T-3:01 A-18