Lobos open conference play with 4-1 win over Nevada

The Lobos of University of New Mexico men’s tennis team (11-7, MW: 1-0) opened up conference play with a win against the Wolf Pack of Nevada (11-4, MW: 0-1), finishing with a final score of 4-1.

The matchup started with back-to-back wins in double’s play. The first flight of Bart Van Leijsen and Jorge Escutia secured a win over Julien Evrard and Kostya Nesterenko, 6-4, followed by a win by Ricky Hernandez-Tong and Stepan Holis against Nevada’s Peter O’Donovan and Augustin Delahodde, by a score of 6-3. This put the Lobos up 1-0 as they went into singles play.

In singles, third flight Dominic West was able to score an impressive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Robert Margitfalvi of the Wolf Pack. Unfortunately, this was then followed by the 5-7, 0-6 defeat over Escutia by Nevada’s Jeremy Merville in the fourth flight, putting the score at 2-1 with the Lobo lead.

In the sixth flight, Sean Baklini of the Lobos nabbed back-to-back set victories over O’Donovan, 6-3, 6-4. Finally, Holis’s straight two-set victories over Delahodde, 6-4, 6-3, were able to clinch the match for the Lobos, finishing the day with a 4-1 victory over Nevada.

“The guys really did everything I asked of them,” Head Coach Ben Dunbar said. “It was a great start to conference play. We can’t wait to play again on Sunday. Thanks to the fans that came out today as well.”

The Lobos are on the road for their second Mountain West matchup, travelling to Fresno, Calif. on Sunday, April 1 to take on the Bulldogs of Fresno State at noon.