LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The University of New Mexico men’s tennis team is competing at the 2016 ITA Regional Championships at The Amanda & Stacy Darling Memorial Tennis Center. The winners of the regional tournament – which goes through Sunday – will advance to the 2016 ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, N.Y., Nov. 3-6.
Day 1 – Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016
In the Round of 128 singles play, New Mexico’s (17) Ricky Hernandez-Tong defeated Dylan Harvala of Montana State 6-3, 6-2, Sean Baklini defeated Zach Fryer of Denver 6-2, 6-2, and Rodolfo Jauregui defeated Robert Margitfalvi of Nevada 6-3, 6-3. However, the Lobos’ Jorge Escutia was defeated by Wyatt Lovera of Denver 3-6, 7-5, 5-7, and will be competing in the back draw.
In the Round of 64, New Mexico’s (7) Hayden Sabatka defeated Richard Solberg of UNLV 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, Hernandez-Tong defeated Jesse Ruder-Hook of Denver 6-1, 6-4, and Baklini defeated (17) Egbert Weverink of Utah 6-1, 6-4. Victor Casedevall of Montana defeated (5) Bart Van Leijsen 6-7, 6-2, 6-7, and (2) David Micevski of Utah defeated Rodolfo Jauregui 7-6, 3-6, 1-6.
In doubles play, Hernandez-Tong/ Jauregui defeated Ryland McDermott/ Morgan Stone of Boise State 8-2 and Escutia/ Baklini defeated Felipe Fonseca/ Guilherme Scarpelli of Idaho 8-5. Sabatka/ Van Leijsen had a bye and will be playing the following day.
Day 2 – Thursday Oct. 20, 2016
In the Round of 32 singles play, Sabatka defeated Samuel Serrano of Utah State 2-6, 7-5, 6-2, Hernandez-Tong defeated Courtney Lock of UNLV 6-2, 6-2, and Baklini defeated Matt Pearce of BYU 6-1, 4-6, 7-5. In the Round of 16, Hernandez-Tong defeated his teammate Sabatka 6-3, 6-3 and will be playing Alex Cozbinov of UNLV in the quarterfinals. Baklini fell to Santiago Sierra of Utah 6-2, 6-0 in the Round of 32 and Escutia fell to Peter Mimnagh-Fleming of Montana 6-2 6-4 in the back draw.
Sabatka will compete again on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the fourth round of the back draw.
In the Round of 32 doubles play, Hayden Sabatka/ Bart Van Leijsen defeated Robert Margitfalvi/ Peter O’Donovan of UNR 8-7 (2). Ricky Hernandez-Tong/ Rodolfo Jauregui defeated (7) Tadgh Collins/ Luke Sanderson of Air Force 8-6. (9) Mauri Benitez/ Stjin Dehaan of NMSU defeated Baklini/ Escutia 8-6.
The Lobos will continue to play in the ITA Regional Championships through the weekend. For quick updates, follow the team on Twitter and Facebook.
2016 ITA Mountain Regional Championships Update
