BERKELEY, Calif. -- The California men's tennis team closed out a short three-match homestand with a 5-2 victory over Kansas Wednesday at the Hellman Tennis Center on the Cal Campus. The victory improved Cal to 9-2 as the Bears reached the midpoint of the 1998 season with their best record since 1989. Kansas fell to 5-8 with the loss.

For the sixth time in eight opportunities this season, the Bears opened the match by winning the doubles point. The Cal tandem of Eric Dmytruk and Minh Le took the first pro set at No. 2, 8-2, over Kansas' Kenny Powell and Xavier Avila, but the Jayhawks bounced back at No. 3 to even the score as Trent Tucker and Jeff Erin defeated Adrian Barnes and Scott Kintz, 8-6. The doubles point finally went to the Bears after the Cal twosome of Bobby Mahal and Nathan Jackmon won a marathon 9-8 victory from Enrique Abaroa and Luis Uribe in a tie-breaker.

In singles action, Mahal posted his 13 victory of the season and continued to roll in the No. 1 slot for Cal with a 6-0, 6-7, 6-2 win over Avila who was forced to play in the Jayhawks top spot as Kansas' usual No. 1, Abaroa, was scratched after doubles with back spasms. Jackmon, Kian Raiszadeh and David Sutton all went on to record straight-set victories in the Nos. 3, 5 and 6 positions, respectively, to secure the Cal win.

Kansas got its two points the hard way as Tucker outlasted Barnes at No. 4, 6-4, 6-7, 7-6, and Luis Uribe squeezed past Minh Le at No. 2, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5.

The California men's tennis team will return to Pac-10 play this weekend when the Bears travel to Arizona State, Friday, March 27, and Arizona, Saturday, March 28. Cal's then returns home to face USC, Friday, April 3, and UCLA, Saturday, April 4.

KANSAS AT CALIFORNIA 

FINAL SCORE:    California  5 
                Kansas      2 

Singles (One point each)
1. Bobby Mahal (Cal)    def.    Xavier Avila (KU)   6-0, 6-7, 6-2
2. Luis Uribe (KU)  def.    Minh Le (Cal)   3-6, 7-6, 7-5
3. Nathan Jackmon (Cal)     def.    Kenny Powell (KU)   6-4, 6-1
4. Trent Tucker (KU)    def.    Adrian Barnes (Cal) 6-4, 6-7, 7-6
5. Kian Raiszadeh (Cal)     def.    Bryan Maier (KU)    6-4, 6-2
6. David Sutton (Cal)   def.    Micah Zomer (KU)    6-2, 6-2

Doubles (One point for winning 2-of-3)
1. Jackmon/Mahal (Cal)  def.    Enrique Abaroa/Uribe (KU)   9-8
2. Eric Dmytruk/Le (Cal)    def.    Powell/Avila (KU)   8-2
3. Tucker/Jeff Erin (KU)    def.    Barnes/Scott Kintz (Cal)    8-6