USC Men’s Tennis Rallies Past Cal with Gritty Singles Surge
BERKELEY, Calif. - USC men’s tennis didn’t just bounce back on Friday - they made a statement. After dropping the doubles point early, the No.
21 Trojans stormed back with four straight singles wins to take down No. 15 California, 4-1, in the consolation match of the ITA Kickoff Weekend at the Hellman Tennis Complex.
This one was all about resilience. USC came into the match looking to shake off a tough start to the season, and they did just that, improving to 3-2 overall with a gutsy road win over a higher-ranked opponent.
It didn’t start the way they wanted. Cal came out swinging in doubles, taking courts one and two to secure the opening point. USC’s lone bright spot in that phase came on court three, where Max Exsted and Nathan Trouve held strong for a 6-4 win - a sign of things to come from that duo.
But once singles play began, the Trojans completely flipped the script.
Niels Hoffmann wasted no time getting USC on the board. Playing on court five, he delivered a clean, composed performance, winning 6-3, 6-4 to even the match at 1-1. That early jolt gave the Trojans the momentum they needed - and they didn’t let up.
Next up was Nathan Trouve, who backed up his doubles win with a strong showing on court two. Facing Cal’s Timofey Stepanov, Trouve stayed steady in the big moments, grinding out a 7-5, 6-4 win to give USC the lead. His ability to stay locked in under pressure was a tone-setter for the rest of the lineup.
Then came Max Exsted, who showed serious fight. After dropping the first set 2-6 on court four, the freshman regrouped, adjusted, and came roaring back. He took the next two sets 6-3, 6-4, giving USC a commanding 3-1 lead and putting the Trojans on the brink.
The clincher came from Jack McCarthy on court three. In a match that saw momentum swing back and forth, McCarthy found another gear in the final set. After splitting the first two sets with Filip Lechno-Wasiutyski, McCarthy dug deep to close it out 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 - sealing the comeback and the win for Troy.
With the match decided, play was halted on courts one and six.
This win doesn’t just go in the W column - it’s a confidence builder. USC showed depth, toughness, and the ability to respond when things don’t go their way. That’s the kind of performance that can galvanize a team early in the season.
And the story’s not over. These two teams will meet again next weekend, with USC returning to Berkeley for a rematch on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 10 a.m.
PT. If this one was any indication, round two should be another battle.