THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – On Saturday morning, the University of Redlands Men's Tennis team traveled to California Lutheran University in their 2026 regular season finale, making quick work of the Kingsmen, 7-0 as they improve to 11-9, 5-2 SCIAC. 

Redlands wasted no time jumping out to the early lead by winning two out of three doubles matches. At No. 1 the duo of Vitomir Petcov (Portland, OR) and MJ Abarca (San Diego, CA) added another 6-2 victory to their record after earning a No. 11 ranking in the ITA National Doubles Polls earlier this week.  At No. 3 Jack Hinkle (Bountiful, UT) and Mateen Ghafarshad (Claremont, CA) secured the point for the U of R winning their match 6-3.  Unfortunately, Sam Parsons (Leamington Spa, England) and Cooper Whittington (Lake Oswego, OR) at No. 2 would fall in a close tiebreak 7-6. 

The men carried the momentum into singles winning all six lines. Hinkle at No. 4 bulldozed through his opponent 6-1, 6-1 well before any other match wrapped up.  Petcov at No. 1 added another 6-3, 6-3 victory to his record after being ranked No. 49 in the ITA Division III National Singles Rankings earlier this week. Ghafarshad at No. 6 went 6-0, 6-4 and William Pullin (PeachTree City, GA) next to him at No. 5 went 6-0,6-4.

The last two matches on both came down to third set tiebreakers, as Redlands had already clinched the match. No. 2 Gustavo Marcanth (Redondo Beach, CA) fell in the first set 6-3, came back to win his second set 6-4, and pushed through the third set tie break to win 10-5.  Abarca at No. 3 sailed through his first set 6-3, then fell in a close second set tiebreak 7-6, but pushed through the third set tie break to come out victorious 10-7.   

Redlands travels for the SCIAC Tournament Semi-Finals this Thursday, April 30 when they take on No. 2 Pomona Pitzer with match time TBD.