Fullerton, CA – The Ephs kept the spring break heater alive on Wednesday, serving up a 7–0 sweep of Hope International with a performance that was equal parts disciplined and electric. Under clear California skies and in front of a growing crowd of Eph supporters, Williams brought the energy from start to finish, winning all six singles matches and grabbing the doubles point in style.
Doubles play set the tone early. On Court 1,
Nicholas Chen and
Shawn Berdia kept their chemistry flowing, ripping through a 6–3 win with just the right balance of fire and finesse. Berdia's net coverage was so dialed in it felt like he was in two places at once, and Chen capped the match with a blistering inside-out forehand return that left their opponents frozen. When asked after the match if the shot was planned, Chen reportedly just smiled and said, "It felt right."
At No. 2,
Simon Volkema and
Andrew Chong combined for a workmanlike 6–3 victory, mixing in some highlight moments of their own. Chong hit a no-look backhand volley that somehow landed on the sideline (and might've been accidental, but we'll never know), while Volkema hit one of the cleaner forehand winners of the day down the line to clinch the match. Over on Court 3,
Leon Liu and
Robert Cooper Jr. barely broke a sweat in a 6–1 rout, with Cooper finishing things off with a diving stab volley that drew some surprised cheers and a celebratory racket twirl that may or may not have been rehearsed.
With the doubles point secured, it was on to singles, where the Ephs never let up.
At No. 1, Chen stayed solid and in control throughout a 6–4, 6–3 win. He mixed depth with pace and tossed in a very casual around-the-post forehand on a full sprint, earning a loud "Let's go, Nick!" from a nearby teammate. Across from him, Berdia at No. 2 looked like he was gliding, barely putting a foot wrong in a clean 6–3, 6–1 win. At one point, he tracked down a drop shot and hit a no-margin topspin lob that clipped the back edge of the baseline.
On Court 3, Volkema played with his usual calm intensity, notching a 6–2, 6–4 win with a mix of deep drives and clever angles. His final point came on a sharply angled cross-court backhand that bounced twice before his opponent could even take a step. At No. 4, Liu was locked in from ball one. He played some of his best tennis of the trip so far, taking a 6–2, 6–4 win with a lethal mix of backhand passes and mid-point "come ons" that only grew louder as the match went on.
Jack Ling at No. 5 brought the energy as always, chasing down every ball like it owed him money and keeping his opponent on the back foot from the first rally. He posted a 6–2, 6–1 win that featured one of the day's best points: a 25-ball rally that ended with a lunging forehand winner down the line. One of the loudest reactions of the match? From Ling himself: a fist pump so aggressive it almost knocked off his hat.
Andrew Chong closed out the sweep on Court 6 with a gritty 7–5, 6–0 win. After edging out a tight first set filled with long rallies and big deuce points, he settled in and turned up the tempo. A sliding backhand winner at 5–0 in the second sealed the deal and brought high-fives from just about everyone on the bench. It was an amazing moment for Chong as his match marked the first clinch of his collegiate career.
After the match, Eph head coach
Dan Greenberg said:
"I loved how the guys locked in today and played focused and efficiently
. We are definitely getting better each match and are excited for Pomona-Pitzer Saturday
"
The Ephs improve to 2–0 on their California campaign and will take the court again on Saturday at 11 AM PST for a marquee match up against Pomona-Pitzer.
Doubles:
- Berdia/Chen (WIL) def. Lizardo/Elsheikh (HIU) 6-3
- Volkema/Chong (WIL) def. Hamp/Lizardo (HIU) 6-3
- Liu/Cooper (WIL) def. Henderson/Henderson (HIU) 6-1
Singles:
- Chen (WIL) def. Lizardo (HIU) 6-4, 6-3
- Berdia (WIL) def. Lizardo (HIU) 6-2, 6-1
- Volkema (WIL) def. Elsheikh (HIU) 6-2, 6-4
- Liu (WIL) def. Folsom (HIU) 6-2, 6-4
- Ling (WIL) def. Henderson (HIU) 6-2, 6-1
- Chong (WIL) def. Barrett (HIU) 7-5, 6-0
