LOS ANGELES -- Southern California is cruising right along on a powerful 13-match winning streak thanks to another shutout victory on Saturday against a Pac-12 opponent. The Trojans were all business against visiting No. 18 California, hammering home the doubles point early and then tacking up three straight-set singles wins to seal the 4-0 sweep. USC improves to 22-2 overall and is a perfect 4-0 in Pac-12 play with the win at Marks Stadium.
"We played some great tennis this weekend," USC head coach Peter Smith said of the Trojans' 7-0 win versus Stanford and 4-0 win versus Cal. "It's a great start to the Pac-12 season. We've had different guys step up each match, and that's good to see. Ray and Eric led the team today. Our doubles has been so solid; Nick Crystal has really embraced his role."
On doubles court No. 2, freshman Nick Crystal and junior Roberto Quiroz got the job done with a smooth 8-3 win against Cal's No. 67 Andre Goransson/Ben McLachlan. At the No. 3 spot, Max de Vroome and Eric Johnson stayed the course for an 8-6 win against Filip Bergevi/Mads Engsted, and the Trojans had a 1-0 lead in the books.
The Bears were able to snag first-set advantages on three courts in singles play, but the Trojans made the most of their leads in the other three matches. On court No. 2, USC's No. 3 Ray Sarmiento found his groove and toppled No. 89 Campbell Johnson with a swift 6-0, 6-1 victory. At the No. 5 spot, Eric Johnson padded the Trojan lead out to 3-0 on a 6-2, 6-1 win against Gregory Bayane. Third sets were looming on two courts at that point, but No. 56 Roberto Quiroz put a stop to things with his 7-5, 6-4 clincher against Bergevi on court No. 3. The 4-0 advantage was locked in for USC, and the remainder of play was suspended as the Trojans emerged victorious. The singles win for Quiroz was the 13th consecutive.
