In the second home match of the season, the University of New Mexico men’s tennis team (5-4) fell in a hard-fought battle against the Utes of the University of Utah (13-1) by a score of 4-2.
In double’s play, the first flight of Bart Van Leijsen and Jorge Escutia started the Lobos off well with a win of 6-4 over Utah’s David Micevski and Randy Cory. Unfortunately, the Lobos were bested in both the second and third flights, with Ricky Hernandez-Tong and Dominic West falling 4-6 against Joe Woolley and Egbert Weverink in the second flight, and Sean Baklini and Stepan Holis losing by a margin of 4-6 against Utah’s Dan Little and Azat Hankuliyev in the third flight to give the Utes the double’s point.
During single’s play, fifth flight Tim Buttner was defeated in two by Utah’s Cory, by a score of 6-7, 2-6. Fortunately for the Lobos, this was followed by a two-set win in the third flight by West, whose 6-2, 6-4 win over Utah’s Slava Shainyan put the first point on the board for the Lobos. This was followed by a loss in the first flight by Van Leijsen, who fell to Little by a score of 6-7, 4-6.
After a 3-6 loss in the first set and a 6-3 win in the second, UNM’s Holis was able to get the win in the sixth flight over Utah’s Santiago Sierra keep the Lobos in the match. Unfortunately, fourth flight Escutia fell in three to Weverink by a score of 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, making the final score for the day 4-2 with a Utah victory.
“Thanks to all the fans that came out today,” Head Coach Ben Dunbar said. “It was a great atmosphere. I felt like we were so close, but credit goes to Utah. They played cleaner on the big points of the doubles and singles. We will work to improve and learn and be ready to play on Sunday.”
After a day off of play, the Lobos will play again Sunday, Feb. 25 against the Gauchos of Santa Barbara at 11 AM at McKinnen Tennis Center in Albuquerque.