LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – The University of New Mexico men’s tennis team finished ITA Kickoff weekend today playing in the consolation match against No. 46 SMU. The Lobos faced the same fate as yesterday, falling 4-0 to their opponent while winning the remaining three matches.
In doubles play, Augusts Ge and Rodolfo Jauregui were up against SMU’s Ronald Slobodchikov and Arkadijs Slobodkins before their match was cut short due to the finish of the other two doubles matches.
The No. 8 duo of Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen played closely with Hunter Johnson and Yates Johnson, but couldn’t get the win, falling 6-3.
In singles play, Van Leijsen, Ge and Sabatka were first to finish their matches. Sabatka battled No. 32 Hunter Johnson to three sets. He fell 6-1 in the first, but came back to keep himself alive in the second, winning 5-7. In the third set, Sabatka ultimately fell to Johnson 6-2.
Jorge Escutia, Ricky Hernandez-Tong and Michael Tran, with his first appearance at the ITA Kickoff, were all leading their matches against SMU before their matches were called.
“We are in every one of these matches and the guys are fighting their tails off,” said head coach Bart Scott. “We have to find a way to play to our potential in doubles though if we want to right the ship.”
The Lobos have faced a tough start to their season against many ranked teams. They will head back to California February 13 to take on two more ranked teams: No. 67 UC Irvine and No. 36 Pepperdine.