Lobos fall in Las Cruces to NMSU, 4-1
The University of New Mexico’s men’s tennis team (10-6) lost today’s matchup against the Aggies of New Mexico State University (9-5) by a score of 4-1.
Double’s play started with a win in the first flight by Bart Van Leijsen and Jorge Escutia over Chris Gonclaves and Sergi Espias by a score of 6-2. Unfortunately for the Lobos, third flight Sean Baklini and Stepan Holis were not able to get a win over Enrique Asmar and Louis Menard by a score of 6-3, while second flight Ricky Hernandez-Tong and Dominic West fell to Mauri Benitez and Stijn de Haan by a score of 6-4, giving the double’s point to the Aggies.
In the single’s play, Van Leijsen fell to de Haan by a score of 6-3, 6-2, while first flight Hernandez-Tong lost to Gonclaves by a score of 6-3, 6-0. The first and only point from the Lobos came from fourth flight Escutia over Asmar, who won by a score of 6-3, 6-3. In the sixth flight, Tim Buttner was unable to get the win over Menard, leaving the Aggies to clinch the match by a score of 7-6, 6-2.
“It was a disappointing day in Las Cruces.” Head Coach Dunbar said. “We didn’t get in the right mental state and that’s on me. I have to do a better job coaching and helping these guys. We are already getting back to work and we are going to rebound like Lobos do.”
The Lobos are back in action again on March 24th at 1 P.M. against Arizona State University in Tempe, before coming back home on March 30th to take on Nevada at home for the first match of Mountain West Play.