ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico men’s tennis team finished the USTA/ITA Regional Championships today. The duo of Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen competed in the final match in doubles play, but came up short after two different tiebreakers.
In the first set, the pair beat Henry Craig and Alex Gasson 6-3. The pair from Denver University came back to win the second set 7-6 after a set tiebreaker. The teams then played a ten-point tiebreaker for the tournament title. The Lobos went back and forth with DU, but couldn’t capture the win.
“We just need to get better and better,” said Hayden Sabatka. “We are going to have losses, but our skill and our level as a doubles team is rising as we go through the fall season, spring and whatever is in front of us is going to be really good.”
In consolation singles play, Jorge Escutia defeated New Mexico State University in the semifinal match when his opponent ended the match early due to an injury.
In the finals match, Escutia competed against Ruder-Hook of Denver University. The two went all three sets and Escutia came out victorious, defeating DU 7-6, 5-7, 7-6.
The Lobos look forward to their next tournament, the USTA/ITA National Indoors held in Flushing Meadows, New York, starting Nov. 12th.
Men’s Tennis Match Scores:
Jorge Escutia (UNM) def. Asmar (NMSU) 6-3, 3-0 ret
Jorge Escutia (UNM) def. Ruder-Hook (DU) 7-6, 5-7, 7-6
Craig/Gasson (DU) def. Bart Van Leijsen/Hayden Sabatka (UNM) 3-6, 7-6, 1-0 (7)
Lobos Suffer Heartbreaker in Doubles Final
