ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico men’s tennis team headed into the second day of the 2015 UTSA/ITA Regional Championships with a lot of tennis to play due to weather delays from day one.
In singles play, Jorge Escutia, Michael Tran, Sean Baklini Hayden Sabatka, Ricky Hernandez-Tong and Bart Van Leijsen all started in the round of 64.
Ge, seeded no. 21 in the tournament, competed against Enrique Asmar from New Mexico State University and won, advancing to the round of 32 where he fell short against an opponent from the University of Utah.
Tran and Hernandez-Tong faced the same fate. They both advanced to the round of 32 after defeating opponents from Utah State University and New Mexico State University respectively, but their play in the tournament ended there. Escutia and Van Leijsen both suffered tough losses and their journey ended the round of 64.
Sabatka defeated Adi Zilberstein from Northern Arizona University in the round of 64 and Jack Swindells of Utah State University in the round of 32. His play advances him to the round of 16 where he will face off against Matt Cowley of the University of Utah.
In doubles play, the no. 1 seeded duo of Van Leijsen and Sabatka beat no. 14 ranked Nakajima and Lopez of USU 8-6. They go on to the semifinals of the tournament to play against Boise State’s Butters and Mitchell, seeded eighth.
Head coach Bart Scott said it was a long, but productive day of tennis. He noted the heart and determination of his team on the courts today.
“There was a lot of good battling out there,” he said. “I am looking forward to going to battle with this group again tomorrow!”
The Lobos enter into the semifinals of the tournament in doubles play and the round on 16 in singles.
For a look at the updated singles draw, click here.
For the doubles draw, click here.
Men’s Tennis Match Scores:
Sabatka/Van Leijsen (UNM) def. Nakajima/Lopez (USU) 8-6
Rocha/James (DU) def. Escutia/Ge (UNM) 8-7
Mark Kovacs (UI) def. Jorge Escutia (UNM)
Augustus Ge (UNM) def. Enrique Asmar (NMSU)
Dan Little (UU) def. Ge (UNM)
Michael Tran (UNM) def. Jonas Maier (USU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
David Fox (DU) def. Tran (UNM)
Matt Cowley (UU) def. Sean Baklini (UNM)
Hayden Sabatka UNM) def. Adi Zilberstein (NAU)
Men’s Tennis: Day 2 of Regional Championships
