ORLANDO, Fla. – California held early leads of 1-0 and 2-1 against Florida State, but the Golden Bears couldn't hang on in their dual-match opener as 20th-ranked FSU edged Cal, 4-3, on Sunday in the USTA National Campus Collegiate Series. The Seminoles clinched the victory when Chase Wood defeated Cal junior Mert Zincirli, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, at No. 6 singles in the match played at the USTA National Campus Collegiate Center.
 
The Bears start 2019 at 0-1. Florida State improved to 7-0.

Cal had won the doubles point, with the pair of Zincirli and sophomore Jack Molloy beating Wood and Richard Thongoana, 6-1, to clinch on court three. The Bears' 14th-ranked pair of sophomore Jacob Brumm and freshman Yuta Kikuchi also won on court one, knocking off Aziz Dougaz and Alex Knaff, 6-3.
 
After Molloy lost to Lucas Poullain, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2 singles, Brumm topped Knaff, 6-3, 6-4, on court three to give Cal a 2-1 lead.
 
But two consecutive losses put the Bears in a 3-2 hole, before junior Bjorn Hoffmann won a close match over Enzo Le Seguillon, 7-5, 7-5 on court five to tie the contest at 3-3 and leave court six to decide matters.
 
"It was a well-played match that came down to the wire, and while we're obviously disappointed with the result, there were many positives to take from it," said Peter Wright, the Director of Cal Men's Tennis. "We looked good in doubles, and we were competitive in almost all of the singles matches. It was a tough way to open the season, but this team is tough and very competitive, and I fully expect us to get stronger every time out."
 
Cal next plays No. 17 Virginia on Jan. 26 in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at No. 9 Texas A&M.

No. 20 Florida State (7-0) defeated California (0-1), 4-3
 
USTA National Campus Collegiate Series
Jan. 20, 2019, in Orlando, Fla.
USTA National Campus Collegiate Center
 
Doubles
1. No. 14 Jacob Brumm/Yuta Kikuchi (Cal) def. Aziz Dougaz/Alex Knaff (FSU), 6-3
2. No. 18 Paul Barretto/Can Kaya (Cal) vs. Lucas Poullain/Enzo Le Seguillon (FSU), 5-2 unfinished
3. Jack Molloy/Mert Zincirli (FSU) def. Chase Wood/Richard Thongoana (FSU), 6-1*
 
Order of Finish: 1, 3
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. Aziz Dougaz (FSU) def. No. 98 Paul Barretto (Cal), 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. Lucas Poullain (FSU) def. Jack Molloy (Cal), 6-2, 6-2
3. Jacob Brumm (Cal) def. Alex Knaff (FSU), 6-3, 6-4
4. No. 84 Rana-Roop Singh Bhullar (FSU) def. Yuta Kikuchi (Cal), 6-4, 0-6, 6-4
5. Bjorn Hoffmann (Cal) def. Enzo Le Seguillon (FSU), 7-5, 7-5
6. Chase Wood (FSU) def. Mert Zincirli (Cal), 7-5, 3-6, 6-2^
 
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 4, 1, 5, 6
^Clinched the overall match