Orange, CA – The Ephs kicked off their spring break campaign under the California sun with a thrilling 5–2 win over Chapman University on Monday. After a long journey from the East Coast, the team brought high energy and heart to their first match of the trip, digging deep to pull out several momentum-shifting wins.
Doubles play was electric from the start, with all three courts showcasing fast hands, aggressive net play, and plenty of intensity. On Court 1,
Nicholas Chen and
Shawn Berdia continued to build on their chemistry, coming up clutch in the biggest moments. Berdia's sharp hands at the net and Chen's heavy returns kept the pressure on throughout. With the set tied at 5, Chen hit a blistering cross-court return to earn a break point, and Berdia followed up with a perfectly angled backhand volley to seal the break. They then served it out to take the match 7–5 and put the Ephs on the board.
At No. 2 doubles,
Simon Volkema and
Andrew Chong battled hard in a close one, trading holds deep into the set. Volkema was solid from the baseline, dictating play with his forehand, while Chong mixed in quick poaches and smart positioning at the net. Despite creating several break chances, they couldn't quite convert and were edged out 6–4.
That left the doubles point hanging in the balance on Court 3, where
Leon Liu and
Robert Cooper Jr. were locked in a tight battle. The duo played with grit and confidence, with Liu carving sharp returns and Cooper attacking with fearless net play. They reached a tense tiebreaker, and despite coming back from an early mini-break down, they narrowly fell short in the breaker, giving Chapman the doubles point.
Down 1-0, the Ephs responded with resilience in singles play. Leading the charge was Volkema at No. 3, who delivered a clean, focused performance. From the first ball, Volkema controlled the tempo with his aggressive baseline play and took time away from his opponent, earning a smooth 6–3, 6–2 win to level the match. Not far behind was
Jack Ling at No. 5, who played with his usual fire and determination. Ling's movement and consistency frustrated his opponent, and his ability to transition from defense to offense helped him post a strong 6–2, 6–3 win to put the Ephs ahead 2–1.
On Court 6,
Diego Marin found himself in a hole after dropping the first set 6–0. Instead of backing down, Marin came out with new intensity in the second set, using his footwork and improved shot selection to turn the match around. He dominated the second-set and carried the momentum into the third, where he took control of the rallies and stormed to a 6–2 finish. His comeback gave the Ephs a 3–1 lead and sparked loud cheers from teammates and spectators. Chapman answered with a win at No. 4, where Liu fought hard but couldn't find his rhythm, falling 6–2, 6–3.
With the score sitting at 3–2, all eyes turned to the top two courts. Chen was locked in a three-set battle at No. 1 after taking the first and dropping the second. Down 3–1 in the final set, he stayed calm and began to dictate with his forehand, constructing points with patience and stepping up when it mattered most. His comeback effort was highlighted by a ripping forehand pass and a well-timed ace to hold at 4–4. From there, Chen rode his momentum, breaking at 6–5 to close out the match 7–5, 1–6, 7–5.
On Court 2, Berdia was also down early in the third set, 3–0. But in classic Berdia fashion, he kept a cool head and stuck to his game plan. Using his speed and clean ground strokes, he slowly worked his way back into the match. A huge down-the-line backhand volley winner at 5–5 swung the set in his favor, and he finished the job 6–3, 4–6, 7–5, clinching the 5–2 win for the Ephs.
Eph head coach
Dan Greenberg was proud of the team's effort, saying, "It was a great start to the trip. The guys showed real fight and mental toughness, especially in the third sets. We knew this would be a test after the travel, and they stepped up."
With the win, the Ephs move to 1–0 on their spring break trip and will look to build on their momentum in their next match against Hope International on Wednesday at 12 PM PST.
Doubles:
- Berdia/Chen (WIL) def. Wilkins/Jorgenson (CHAP) 7-5
- Hess/Izmirian (CHAP) def. Volkema/Chong (WIL) 6-4
- Dickinson/Caldwell (CHAP) def. Liu/Cooper (WIL) 7-6(3)
Singles:
- Chen (WIL) def. Wilkins (CHAP) 7-5, 1-6, 7-5
- Berdia (WIL) def. Izmirian (CHAP) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5
- Volkema (WIL) def. Dickinson (CHAP) 6-3, 6-2
- Caldwell (CHAP) def. Liu (WIL) 6-2, 6-3
- Ling (WIL) def. Dewey (CHAP) 6-2, 6-3
- Marin (WIL) def. Sanseverino (CHAP) 0-6, 6-3, 6-2
