LOS ANGELES – California rebounded from a tough start in doubles on Friday at the Marks Tennis Stadium, but the Golden Bears' effort wasn't enough as No. 14 USC topped No. 30 Cal, 4-2. The Trojans clinched the victory after a close match at court-six singles, with Cal freshman Jacob Brumm falling to Thibault Forget, 3-6, 6-0, 7-5.
 
The Bears' record now stands at 8-5 (1-1 Pac-12), while USC improved to 12-5 (3-0 Pac-12).
 
USC clinched the doubles point when Daniel Cukierman and Tanner Smith beat Cal sophomore Dominic Barretto and freshman Can Kaya, 6-1, on court three. Earlier, the 13th-ranked Cal pair of seniors Billy Griffith and J.T. Nishimura lost in an upset to 16th-ranked Brandon Holt and Riley Smith, 6-1, on court one.
 
Down 2-0 after losing the first match in singles, the Bears tied the match at 2-2 when Cal freshman Paul Barretto bested Jake DeVine, 6-2, 7-5, on court five and freshman Ben Draper beat Riley Smith, 6-3, 7-6(3), on court four.
 
A three-setter on court three pushed USC into a 3-2 lead, as the Trojans' Laurens Verboven defeated Cal freshman Jack Molloy, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. With the court-one match between the 57th-ranked Griffith and 67th-ranked Cukierman in the third set, Forget wrapped up the win for USC.
 
"We came out cold in the doubles and didn't compete at an acceptable level on any court," said Cal Director of Men's Tennis Peter Wright. "We regrouped and turned things around in singles, and I felt our guys focused better on their gameplans and that was reflected in the mid-match results.
 
"One of the great things about this team is that nobody gives up, and our guys feed on the positive energy each guy brings to his match. This match got away from us in the end, and you have to give USC credit for that, but overall we put ourselves in a position to win today. If you continue to do that, you're going to win your fair share of the matches. Now our challenge is to learn from this match, put it behind us and get ready to face UCLA tomorrow."

Cal plays at No. 4 UCLA on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
No. 14 USC (12-5, 3-0 Pac-12) def. No. 30 California (8-5, 1-1 Pac-12), 4-2
March 30, 2018, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Marks Tennis Stadium
 
Doubles
(1) #16 Brandon Holt/Riley Smith (USC) def. #13 Billy Griffith/J.T. Nishimura (Cal) - 6-1
(2) #23 Jack Jaede/Laurens Verboven (USC) vs. Ben Draper/Jack Molloy (Cal) - 5-2 susp.
(3) Daniel Cukierman/Tanner Smith (USC) def. Dominic Barretto/Can Kaya (Cal) - 6-1
 
USC wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 1, 3
 
Singles
(1) #67 Daniel Cukierman (USC) vs. #57 Billy Griffith (Cal) - 6-4, 6-7 (4), 2-2 susp.
(2) Jack Jaede (USC) def. J.T. Nishimura (Cal) - 6-3, 6-2
(3) Laurens Verboven (USC) def. Jack Molloy (Cal) - 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
(4) Ben Draper (Cal) def. Riley Smith (USC) - 6-3, 7-6 (3)
(5) Paul Barretto (Cal) def. Jake DeVine (USC) - 6-2, 7-5
(6) Thibault Forget (USC) def. Jacob Brumm (Cal) - 3-6, 6-0, 7-5*
 
Order of finish: 2, 5, 4, 3, 6*