BERKELEY – California was hoping to build on the momentum of Friday's win and send seniors Billy Griffith and J.T. Nishimura out with a victory in their last regular-season match at home. But No. 36 Oregon had other ideas, as the Ducks upset the No. 31 Golden Bears, 4-2, on Saturday at the Hellman Tennis Complex.
 
Oregon clinched when 24th-ranked Thomas Laurent beat the 58th-ranked Griffith, 7-6(2), 7-5, at court-one singles.
 
The Bears' record – including Friday's 4-1 win over Washington – is now 11-8 overall and 3-4 in the Pac-12. Oregon improved to 16-8 (4-4 Pac-12).
 
Earlier in the day there was a festive atmosphere at Hellman. A big crowd was on hand to celebrate Senior Day and McManus Legends Day and to partake of the free hamburgers courtesy of Fuddruckers. Cal Day – the annual campus-wide open house – also brought in fans.
 
The good vibe extended into doubles, as first Cal sophomore Dominic Barretto and freshman Ben Draper beat Charles Roberts and Armando Soemarno, 6-1, on court three and then freshmen Can Kaya and Jack Molloy defeated Ty Gentry and Simon Stevens, 6-3, on court two to clinch the doubles point.
 
The Bears got a strong singles performance from Molloy, who defeated Akihiro Tanaka, 6-1, 6-1, on court three to double the lead at 2-0.
 
But Cal lost all the other first sets to the Ducks, who got on the scoreboard when Stevens beat Nishimura, 6-3, 6-3, on court two and who tied the match at 2-2 when Gentry topped Draper, 6-2, 7-6(2), on court four. Clissold then gave Oregon a 3-2 lead after beating freshman Paul Barretto, 6-3, 6-4, on court five.
 
The Bears still had a shot. While Griffith and freshman Jacob Brumm lost first sets, they were on the verge of pushing their matches to third sets. Brumm was tied, 1-1, in a second-set tiebreak with Riki Oshima on court six, but then Laurent closed out the match.
 
"Obviously a disappointing way for our seniors to finish the regular season," said Peter Wright, Cal's Director of Men's Tennis. "We had a great crowd today, and we played well in doubles. But we just weren't able to maintain our focus through the singles. I give Oregon credit for playing a solid match today.
 
"The postseason is looking to be exciting, and I'm looking forward to leading this group into the conference tournament next week and into the NCAAs in May."

Next up for Cal is the Pac-12 Championship tournament that will run from April 25-28 in Ojai, California.
 
No. 36 Oregon (16-8, 4-4 Pac-12) defeated No. 31 California (11-8, 3-4 Pac-12), 4-2
April 21, 2018, in Berkeley, Calif.
Hellman Tennis Complex
 
Doubles
1. No. 33 Cormac Clissold/Thomas Laurent (Oregon) vs. No. 35 Billy Griffith/J.T. Nishimura (Cal), 5-4 Unfinished
2. Can Kaya/Jack Molloy (Cal) def. Ty Gentry/Simon Stevens (Oregon), 6-3*
3. Dominic Barretto/Ben Draper (Cal) def. Charles Roberts/Armando Soemarno (Oregon), 6-1
 
Cal won the doubles point
 
Order of Finish: 3, 2*
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. No. 24 Thomas Laurent (Oregon) def. No. 58 Billy Griffith (Cal), 7-6(2), 7-5^
2. Simon Stevens (Oregon) def. J.T. Nishimura (Cal), 6-3, 6-3
3. Jack Molloy (Cal) def. Akihiro Tanaka (Oregon), 6-1, 6-1
4. Ty Gentry (Oregon) def. Ben Draper (Cal), 6-2, 7-6(2)
5. Cormac Clissold (Oregon) def. Paul Barretto (Cal), 6-3, 6-4
6. Riki Oshima (Oregon) vs. Jacob Brumm (Cal), 6-3, 6-6 Unfinished
 
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 4, 5, 1^
^Clinched the overall match