LOS ANGELES – Host and No. 4 seed UCLA opened the 2012 NCAA tennis championships with a 4-0 victory over the Eastern Kentucky University men’s tennis team Saturday afternoon. The Colonels conclude the season 19-10 overall.

EKU’s senior class helped the Colonels reach three consecutive NCAA tournaments. Philip Janz, Hugo Klientovsky, Emilio Piriz, Carles Pons, Niklas Schroeder and Parul Verma all played their final matches wearing a Colonel uniform.

UCLA (23-3), which has won 16 national titles, now advances to face San Diego in the second round.

Eastern Kentucky did not go quietly against the Bruins. The No. 1 doubles team featuring Klientovsky and Pons was tied with UCLA’s top team when the doubles point was decided.

In singles, Klientovsky won the first set in convincing fashion at the No. 1 spot, but did not have a chance to complete the upset over UCLA’s Clay Thompson. Verma lost the first set at No. 4 singles, but was ahead a break in the second when the team outcome was decided.

2012 NCAA Championships – First Round
No. 4 UCLA 4, Eastern Kentucky 0

Singles
1. Hugo Klientovsky (EKU) led #62 Clay Thompson (UCLA)  6-1, 3-3 DNF
2. #16 Nick Meister (UCLA) led Niklas Schroeder (EKU)    6-0, 4-3 DNF
3. Dennis Novikov (UCLA) def. Philip Janz (EKU)   6-4, 6-0
4. #84 Marcos Giron (UCLA) led Parul Verma (EKU)   6-1, 1-3 DNF
5. #46 Adrien Puget (UCLA) def. Joao Maio (EKU)   6-0, 6-0
6. Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) def. Emilio Piriz (EKU)   6-3, 6-2

Doubles
1. #44 Brigham/Puget (UCLA) vs. Klientovsky/Pons (EKU)  5-5 DNF
2.#85  Meister/Novikov (UCLA) def. Janz/Schroeder (EKU)  8-3
3. Giron/Hardie (UCLA) def. Dombrowski/Verma (EKU)  8-3

Match Notes: Eastern Kentucky (19-10); No. 4 UCLA (23-3)
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2); Singles (5, 6, 3*)