Feb. 28, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif - The No. 9 Baylor men's tennis team handed No. 7 Stanford its first loss of the season last night defeating the Cardinals 5-1. The match was originally scheduled to be played at the Taube Tennis Center in Palo Alto but was relocated to an indoor facility in San Francisco due to weather.

Baylor increased their winning streak to five straight matches posting a 7-3 overall record for the season. Stanford fell to 6-1 with the loss ending a six match streak and its chance at an undefeated season.

Due to time restraints caused by rain delays, doubles action was cancelled and the Bears swept through singles play winning five-of-six match-ups. Fourth-ranked Lars Poerschke led the Bears in the number one position handing Stanford's No. 43 James Pade his first dual-loss of the season in a 7-6, 6-4 victory.

Baylor's Will Ward continued his personal winning streak taking down James Wan in the number three position 6-3, 7-6. With this win, Ward has now increased his career long streak to six matches. The rest of Baylor's points came from wins by Matija Zgaga, Michal Kokta and Matt Brown.

Baylor's only loss on the day came when Stanford's Phil Kao overpowered Vladimir Portnov in a hard-fought, three-set match 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Baylor will have a full week without a match before heading to Fort Worth Tuesday, March 7 to take on TCU.

Baylor 5, Stanford 1
Singles
1. Lars Poerschke (BU) def. James Pade (S) 7-6, 6-4
2. Matija Zgaga (BU) def. Matt Bruch (S), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
3. Will Ward (BU) def. James Wan (S), 6-3, 7-6
4. Michal Kokta (BU) def. Blake Muller (S), 7-6, 6-2
5. Phil Kao (S) def. Vladimir Portnov (BU), 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
6. Matt Brown (BU) def. Jon Wong (S), 6-3, 6-2