LOS ANGELES – For the second straight day No. 16 California won the doubles point against a Los Angeles powerhouse and lost, 4-2. On Saturday, that meant a Pac-12 Conference loss to No. 5 UCLA at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

Cal's overall record is now 11-5 and 2-2 in the Pac-12. UCLA has a 16-2 record (4-0 Pac-12).

One day earlier, Cal lost at No. 9 USC. But a big difference for the Golden Bears against the Bruins was the absence of sophomore Billy Griffith.

“We played better today in singles and doubles, and this team continues to improve over the course of the season,” Cal head coach Peter Wright said. “Billy Griffith was out in doubles and singles today, and we still managed to play UCLA tough all the way to the end.

“Even though it's hard to see in the results this weekend, I think we are gaining confidence in our ability to be playing our best tennis in the postseason. This is a tough group of guys, and we're looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

In doubles, the pair of senior Mads Engsted and sophomore J.T. Nishimura started Cal off with a 6-4 win over UCLA's Gage Brymer and Maxime Cressy on court three. The Bears' 44th-ranked duo of juniors Filip Bergevi and Florian Lakat then upset the fourth-ranked Mackenzie McDonald and Martin Redlicki, 6-4, on court one to clinch the point.

But three losses in singles put Cal behind, 3-1.

Nishimura battled back to win in singles, beating Joseph Di Giulio, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, on court six to give the Bears hope with the score 3-2.

But the Bruins clinched the overall victory when the 41st-ranked Brymer topped Bergevi, 7-6(8), 7-5, on court three.

Cal returns to Berkeley to host Washington on April 8 and Oregon on April 9 at the Hellman Tennis Complex.

#5 UCLA 4, #16 California 2
Apr 02, 2016 at Los Angeles, CA (Los Angeles Tennis Center)