San Diego, Calif.— As the Mountain West Conference tournament quickly approaches for the University of New Mexico Men’s Tennis team, three players were honored with conference honors.
The senior double’s duo of Bart Van Leijsen and Jorge Escutia earned a spot on the 2018 All-Mountain West Double’s team. The duo competed in the first flight position all year, going 13-4 for the season. Van Leijsen, along with junior Ricky Hernandez-Tong, also earned spots on the 2018 All-Mountain West Single’s team, with both Lobos playing in flights one and two throughout the season. Van Leijsen went 11-11 in the season, while Hernandez-Tong went 13-6.
This is the second time that Hernandez-Tong has made the MWC single’s team and this is the first time that Jorge Escutia has made the MWC double’s team. On top of it being the third time that Van Leijsen has made the MWC single’s team, Van Leijsen has the impressive distinction of making the MWC double’s team all four years of his collegiate career.
“I’m proud of all the guys and their achievements,” Head Coach Ben Dunbar said. “Ricky, Bart and Jorge have been great and I look forward to them competing alongside the rest of the guys tomorrow.”
The Lobos enter the tournament with a third-seed placement, and they will begin their tournament journey at 7 pm Mountain Standard Time as they take on the number six seed, the Aztecs of San Diego State University. This will be the second time that the Lobos will face the Aztecs in San Diego this season, as the Lobos bested San Diego 4-3 earlier in the season.
“This group is coming together, and we are going to be really tough to beat this week,” Dunbar said. “I really believe in this group.”
For those that are not attending the tournament in San Diego can watch the match live from the Mountain West website. The site will also update with all scores and future matches. For more information, you can follow the official UNM Men’s Tennis Team Twitter @UNMLoboMTennis.