MIDLAND, Texas – University of New Mexico senior James Hignett and freshman Bart Van Leijsen will team up to represent the Lobos in the doubles competition on the final day of the Racquet Club Invitational in Midland, Texas.
It was another rainy day out in Midland causing the tournament to get off to a late start for the second day in a row. With over 20 collegiate teams waiting to play some tennis, the Racquet Club Invitational tournament director was forced to change the match format in order to get through more matches. Singles play was changed to an eight game pro set while doubles became a six game set.
Day two was highlighted by the Lobos’ success in doubles. Hignett and Van Leijsen started out strong in the round of 32 with a victory over UT – Arlington’s Daniel Armengol and Mario Muniesa, 6-2, and were able to keep the momentum going through two more rounds. The UNM duo defeated Trey Daniel and Hudson Blake of TCU, 6-3, in the round of 16 and claimed a 6-4 win over Texas’ Jacoby Lewis and John Mee in the quarterfinals. Hignett and Van Leijsen will face Tin Ostojic and Tomislav Gregurovic of Wichita State in the semifinals on Sunday morning. They are the only Lobos still in the running for a tournament title.
Rodolfo Jauregui and Sean Baklini teamed up to defeat Tulsa’s Daniel Santos and Chase Gordon in the first round, 6-4, but lost in the next round to Michael Feucht and Nikita Lis from Lamar, 6-3.
The Lobos recorded mixed results in the singles competition. In the second round of the Flight No. 1 main draw, Van Leijsen was the only UNM competitor to pick up a win. He defeated ACU’s Nico Agritelley, 8-5, but then fell to Ostojic, 8-3, in the quarterfinals. Hignett lost to Max Andrews of Rice, 8-3, and Jauregui lost a close 8-6 match to TCU’s Trevor Johnson.
In Flight No. 2, redshirt freshman Baklini fell to ACU’s Henry Adams, 8-5, the first round, but went on to earn his collegiate singles win with a 8-4 victory over Hunter Holman of Texas Tech in a consolation match.
“Today was another great day of learning for the guys,” assistant coach Ben Dunbar said. “Credit to Sean Baklini who got his first college format wins. We played good doubles all day and we hope to continue that tomorrow in the semifinals. On the singles court, the guys will go back to Albuquerque with lots of positives and plenty to learn from this weekend.”
Head to the UNM Men’s Tennis Facebook page for updates and scores from the Lobos’ third and final day at the Racquet Club Invitational.
FINAL RESULTS (DAY TWO)
Men’s Singles Flight No. 1 – Round of 16
Bart Van Leijsen (UNM) def. Nico Agritelley (ACU), 8-5
Trevor Johnson (TCU) def. Rodolfo Jauregui (UNM), 8-6
Max Andrews (Rice) def. James Hignett (UNM), 8-3
Men’s Singles Flight No. 1 – Quarterfinals
Tin Ostojic (Wichita State) def. Van Leijsen (UNM), 8-3
Men’s Singles Flight No. 2 – Round of 16
Henry Adams (ACU) def. Sean Baklini (UNM), 8-5
Men’s Singles Flight No. 2 – Consolation Play
Baklini (UNM) def. Hunter Holman (TTU), 8-4
Men’s Doubles Flight No. 1 – Round of 32
Jauregui/Baklini (UNM) def. Gordon/Santos (Tulsa), 6-4
Hignett/Van Leijsen (UNM) def. Armengol/Muniesa (UTA), 6-2
Men’s Doubles Flight No. 1 – Round of 16
Feucht/Lis (Lamar) def. Jauregui/Baklini (UNM), 6-3
Hignett/Van Leijsen def. Daniel/Blake (TCU), 6-3
Men’s Doubles Flight No. 1 – Quarterfinals
Hignett/Van Leijsen def. Lewis/Mee (Texas), 6-4