Men's Tennis Opens Well at Midland
MIDLAND, Texas — In a conscious effort to see what new hand head coach Ben Dunbar was dealt, his opening tournament, the Midland Invitational, featured all three newcomers to the team, plus Facundo Bermejo. Suffice to say, Dunbar likes what he saw. In a tournament filled with Power 5 conference schools, UNM more than held its own, going 5-7 in singles and 2-2 in doubles despite it being the first collegiate competition for two of the newcomers, and the first Division I tournament for a third.
“I am very pleased with our first weekend of matches, it is just what we needed to start our new guys off with playing against some of the best schools in the country,” said head coach Ben Dunbar. “We had some good wins and a lot of great learning and we can only grow from matches like these against some very good opposition. Jake Trondson had an especially solid weekend, showing us that he knows what it takes to be consistent match in and match out. I am proud of the guys and excited to learn, implement and improve for next weekend in Arizona.”
In the opening round of 32 in singles, Division III transfer Jake Trondson was the lone Lobo to get out of the round, defeating Jackson Cobb of Texas Tech 2-6, 7-5, 6-2. That match went a full three sets, and that would be a theme throughout as eight of the 12 matches played in singles would go three sets, with UNM going 3-5 in those matches. In the other opening round singles matches, UNM came close twice with Bermejo losing to Alejandro Hayen of UT Arlington 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 and Raul Dobai, a freshman, losing 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. UNM’s other freshman Alex Maggs lost in striaght sets 6-2, 6-3.
Trondsen advanced to the quarterfinals, but he lost to Pierce Rollins of Texas A&M 4-6, 6-2, 7-6. From there all the Lobos bounced down into the consolation bracket, where Bermejo took down Justin Bloss of Texas Tech 6-2, 4-6, 10-6. before losing to TCU’s Max Kurzban 4-6, 6-2, 10-8. UNM got three wins in the final consolation matches with Bermejo winning over Utah State’s Arvid Hjalte 6-4, 7-5 and Trondsen winning twice, taking a 6-1, 6-1 hammer to Justin Bloss of Texas Tech and then beating Felipe Acosta of Utah State 7-5, 5-7, 10-4.
In doubles, UNM won both quarterfinal matches. Trondson and Bermejo defeate Texas A&M 8-6 and Maggs and Dobai formed a freshman team that won a squeaker 9-8 over TCU. Both teams lost in the quarterfinals, Trandson and Bermejo 8-6 to Texas Tech and Dobai and Maggs 8-6 to Texas A&M.
Its a quick turnaround for the Lobos as the team leaves for the Arizona Invitational starting on Friday, September 20.
Round of 16
Trondson/ Bermejo def Kumar/ Marson (Texas A&M) 8-6
Maggs/Dobai def Kurzban/Roldan (TCU) 9-8
Quarterfinals
Ribeiro/ Cobb (Texas Tech) def Trondson/ Bermejo 8-6
Smith/ Rollins (Texas A&M) def Dobai/ Maggs 8-6
Midland Invitational Results
Singles:
Round of 32
Jake Trondson def Jackson Cobb (Texas Tech) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
Alejandro Hayen (UT Arlington) def Facundo Bermejo 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
Angel Diaz Jalil (UT Arlington) def Raul Dobai 6-2, 6-7, 6-4
Felipe Acosta (Utah State) def Alex Maggs 6-2, 6-3
Round of 16
Pierce Rollins (Texas A&M) def Jake Trondson 4-6, 6-2, 7-6
Consolation Round of 16
Alan Sanson (UTSA) def Raul Dobai 6-4 3-0 (retired injured)
Jeff Guerrero (Tyler JC) def Alex Maggs 6-7, 6-4, 10-6
Facundo Bermejo def Justin Bloss (Texas Tech) 6-2, 4-6, 10-6
Consolation QF
Max Kurzban (TCU) def Facundo Bermejo 4-6, 6-2, 10-8
Consolation Matches
Jake Trondson def Justin Bloss (Texas Tech) 6-1, 6-1
Facundo Bermejo def Arvid Hjalte (Utah State) 6-4, 7-5
Jake Trondson def Felipe Acosta (Utah State) 7-5, 5-7, 10-4
Doubles:
Round of 16
Trondson/ Bermejo def Kumar/ Marson (Texas A&M) 8-6
Maggs/Dobai def Kurzban/Roldan (TCU) 9-8
Quarterfinals
Ribeiro/ Cobb (Texas Tech) def Trondson/ Bermejo 8-6
Smith/ Rollins (Texas A&M) def Dobai/ Maggs 8-6