Sun Devils eliminate Bears from Pac-12 tournament in tennis

The No. 58 Bears faced disappointment in their final Pac-12 Championship tournament as they fell to No. 23 Arizona State in the first round with a score of 4-1. The match started off with a close loss in the doubles point for Cal, despite a strong performance from Qian Sun and Carl Emil Overbeck on Court 3.

Head coach Kris Kwinta attributed the struggles to the stress of playing with their season on the line. The Bears carried this stress into singles play, where they lost four first sets in three straight-set match losses. The only victory for Cal came from Lucas Magnaudet, who won his last collegiate match against Roi Ginat.

The Bears ended the season with a 10-10 record, showing dominance at home but struggling on the road. Kwinta pointed to a lack of confidence in away matches as a key factor in their road woes. Despite the challenges faced this season, the team gained valuable experience with a young lineup due to injuries.

The loss in the Pac-12 tournament marks the end of an era for Cal tennis as they prepare to move to the ACC next season. The team has been a part of the Pac-12 since 1915, winning six conference team titles during that time. Kwinta expressed sadness at leaving the Pac-12 and hopes for a reunion at Ojai in the future.