The Nevada men’s tennis fell 7-0 to No. 17 ranked California Golden Bears on Feb. 22 at the Hellman Tennis Complex in Berkley, Calif. The Wolf Pack fell to 6-4 on the season while California improved to 5-2. 

Nevada was faced with a tough task against a stout Golden Bears lineup. The first three players in California’s lineup are all nationally ranked. Sophomore Yuta Kikuchi is ranked No. 35 in the country followed by junior Jack Molloy at No. 63 and junior Paul Barretto at No. 77. 

California won both doubles on the day in commanding fashion. Kikuchi and Molloy took a 6-3 victory over Nevada’s Daniel Dudockin and Benjamin Campi to clinch the doubles point. Barretto and Can Kaya defeated Julien Evrard and Isaac Nortley of the Wolf Pack 6-1 for the second doubles point. 

In singles action, the Golden Bears won all six matches in straight sets. Kikuchi defeated Evrard 6-1, 6-2. Molloy defeated Nortey 6-3, 6-3. Barretto defeated Delmas N’tcha 6-4, 6-4. Kent Hunter defeated Dudockin 7-6, 6-2. Ben Draper defeated Gvidas Motuzas 6-2, 6-3. Bjorn Hoffman clinched the victory for California with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Campi. 

Nevada will look to brush off the loss during the Fresno State Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 29 and Sunday, Mar. 1. Times and matchups for the invitational in Fresno, Calif. have not been announced.

Following the Fresno State Invitational, the Wolf Pack gear up for the Golden State Invitational in Sacramento, Calif. before conference play begins. 

Isaiah Burrows can be reached at rfreeberg@sagebrush.unr.edu or on Twitter @SagebrushSports.