ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Lucas Magnaudet won a three-setter to clinch the 29th-ranked California men's tennis team's 4-1 victory over 34th-ranked LSU in the NCAA Championship first round on Saturday at Michigan's Varsity Tennis Center. The Golden Bears (13-10) next play the seventh-ranked/seventh-seeded Wolverines (25-4) in the second round on Sunday for the right to advance to the NCAA Super Regional. (Update: Due to rain in Ann Arbor, the NCAA second-round match between Cal-Michigan will now start not before 2 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PDT on Sunday.).
 
The Bears claimed the doubles point and a 1-0 lead over the Tigers after winning on court two, with Siddhant Banthia and Ryder Jackson defeating Stefan Latinovic and Welsh Hotard, 6-2, and clinching on court three, with Derrick Chen and Philip Hjorth beating Chen Dong and George Stoupe, 6-3.
 
LSU got on the scoreboard in singles when Latinovic beat Jackson, 6-4, 6-4, on court two to tie the contest 1-1.
 
But Cal reeled off the next three wins to take the match, starting with Hjorth's 6-4, 6-1 result over Julien Penzlin on court six. Carl Emil Overbeck knocked off Dong, 6-4, 6-2, on court three to give the Bears a 3-1 lead, and Magnaudet prevailed over Stoupe, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, on court five to wrap up the Bears' 4-1 victory.
 
Cal is in the NCAA team tournament after last competing in it in 2019.
 
"There are different conditions and a different set of rules in the postseason," said Kris Kwinta, Cal's Peter Wright Director of Men's Tennis. "Most of these guys haven't been to the NCAA tournament. It's a different experience. But we came out ready and really composed in doubles, we hit our spots and had fun on all the courts, despite some nervousness. We found a way to enjoy this moment the team has earned.
 
"We kept the momentum going into singles, and took some big first sets early, with Yuta winning one, Philly coming through with a set and Carlo winning one. That put us up on the scoreboard, and that allowed us to be aggressive, continue the momentum, and play better and better."
 
Cal faces a talented second-round opponent in host Michigan. The Big 10 runner-up improved its home record to 12-1 after defeating Toledo, 4-0, in Saturday's other first-round match in Ann Arbor.
 
"We've mostly been underdogs this season," Kwinta said. "I always loved this position myself growing up. It's a good place to be – you can swing freely and go for your shots. The pressure's on Michigan. They're one of the favorites of the tournament, especially playing at their place. I can guarantee you that we'll come out feisty, ready to play and going for our shots. We have enough firepower to push anybody in the country.
 
"I expect to come out tomorrow with 10 warriors ready to battle. Tennis is a pretty simple game. Everybody is beatable and everybody has weaknesses. If we can find theirs, we can create success for ourselves, and if we stay together as a pack of Bears, we are dangerous."
 
NCAA Championship First Round
 
No. 29 Cal (13-10) 4, No. 34 LSU (14-11) 1
May 6, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Varsity Tennis Center
 
Singles
No. 1 – No. 27 Yuta Kikuchi (Cal) vs. No. 67 Ronnie Hohmann (LSU) 7-6(4), 4-6, unfinished
No. 2 – Stefan Latinovic (LSU) def. Ryder Jackson (Cal) 6-4, 6-4
No. 3 – Carl Emil Overbeck (Cal) def. Chen Dong (LSU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 4 – Derrick Chen (Cal) vs. Welsh Hotard (LSU) 7-6 (6), 3-3 unfinished
No. 5 – Lucas Magnaudet (Cal) def. George Stoupe (LSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
No. 6 – Philip Hjorth (Cal) def. Julien Penzlin (LSU) 6-4, 6-1
 
Doubles
No. 1 – No. 31 Nick Watson/Ronnie Hohmann (LSU) vs. No. 81 Yuta Kikuchi/Carl Emil Overbeck (Cal) 6-5 unfinished
No. 2 – Siddhant Banthia/Ryder Jackson (Cal) def. Stefan Latinovic/Welsh Hotard (LSU) 6-2
No. 3 – Philip Hjorth/Derrick Chen (Cal) def. Chen Dong/George Stoupe (LSU) 6-3
 
Order of Completion: Doubles 2-3; Singles 2-6-3-5