After failing to clinch the double’s point, the University of New Mexico’s Men’s Tennis team (12-8, MW: 2-1) rallied back in singles to take the win over the Aztecs of San Diego State (3-18 MW: 1-3), with a final score of 4-3.
The matchup started with doubles play, with the second flight doubles pairing of Dominic West and Sean Baklini from UNM falling to Jan Kirchoff and Raul de la Torre of SDSU by a score of 6-4. In the third flight, Ricky Hernandez-Tong and Stepan Holis of the Lobos were unable to secure a win over SDSU’s Arnaud Restifo and David Hough, also falling by a score of 6-4 to grant the double’s point to the Aztecs.
Bart Van Leijsen of the Lobos was able to start off strong and shift the momentum in single’s play in the first flight, scoring straight 6-1, 6-1 victories over SDSU’s Ignacio Martinez to tie the teams at one point apiece. UNM’s Hernandez-Tong and Stepan Holis followed suit, with Holis winning over Kirchoff, 6-3, 6-2 in the fifth flight, and Hernandez-Tong besting Restifo, 6-2, 6-3 in the second flight, putting the Lobos up 3-1.
In the third flight, West suffered the first single’s loss for the Lobos, where he fell to SDSU’s Sander Andersen, by a score of 7-5, 6-1. This was then followed by a loss in the sixth flight by Baklini against de la Torre, 6-3, 7-5, which tied the teams with only one match left to play.
Fortunately for the Lobos, fourth flight Jorge Escutia played two strong sets against Rafael Gonzalez Almazan, clinching the 4-3 win for the Lobos with a score of 7-6, 6-4.
“The Mountain West Conference is really competitive, so a road win as SDSU is great to get,” Head Coach Ben Dunbar said. “It’s also good to taste winning here because the conference tournament is here in two weeks. I was pleased and proud of the response after and edgy double’s point.”
The Lobos are back in action again on Sunday, April 8, as they travel to Las Vegas, Nevada to take on the Rebels of UNLV at noon.