Luben Pampoulov was never the card in UCLA’s back pocket. He was an ace of spades that everyone knew would turn the Bruins’ decent playing hand into a gem. But for the first three months of the season, it was a hand the Bruins could not play.
His insertion into the men’s tennis team’s lineup on April 2 immediately transformed a roster that opened the season with a mediocre 11-5 record. With Pampoulov, the team reeled off 11 straight victories before falling in the finals of the NCAA Championship.
He finished the season 8-2 in singles and paired with Phillip Gruendler to go 13-1 to capture the Pac-10 Championship in doubles.
If there was one match that signified his impact, it came at the end of the season against Illinois. The Fighting Illini had defeated a Pampoulov-less Bruin squad 4-0 in February, but in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, Pampoulov’s 6-0, 2-6, 6-3 win over Brian Stolt propelled the Bruins to a 4-2 victory.
With UCLA losing senior Tobias Clemens, Pampoulov is expected to take over the top spot next year.
It shouldn’t be too tough a transition for a player who is already one of the best cards in the deck.
Compiled by Andrew Finley, Bruin sports senior staff.
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