Lobos Open Season in Tennessee vs. No. 18 Vols
Have you even gone to a movie and been enraptured by the big screen for two or maybe three hours, only to have the ending come somewhat abruptly, leaving you wishing there was something a little bit more? If so, welcome to the 2019 Lobo men’s tennis season, a season in which UNM struggled out of the get, and then hit overdrive, rolling through conference play unbeaten to win the Mountain West title.
Much like that movie, the season ended abruptly in an epic semifinal matchup with San Diego State, with the Aztecs ultimately coming out on top. Now, just a year later, a lot of the same Lobos are back, looking for a better denouement to the season, and head coach Ben Dunbar feels he has the horses in place to get them there.
It will all start this weekend with a pair of matches in the Central Time Zone as the Lobos head to the Volunteer State to face off with No. 18 Tennessee (2-0) on Saturday at 11 a.m. Mountain Time and then Middle Tennessee State on Monday at 12:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Those are the first of 22 matches in the Spring for the defending champs.
It’s a tough schedule, one that with success can lead to a national ranking and an at large berth into the NCAAs. Along with the opening weekend battle with a top-25 foe, the second weekend has UNM in the prestigious ITA kickoff in Waco, Texas where UNM will open with Louisville of the ACC with a potential second round match with the No. 5 Baylor Bears looming.
“We are so excited to get on the road this weekend and represent our program. This is a great way to start the season with two high level matches,” said head coach Ben Dunbar. “Our guys have been working hard this Fall and through the preseason and I am excited to see the hard work pay off. The passion to represent our state is strong with this group. As far as the schedule goes, there is no better way to start your season than playing the very best; this schedule is one of the best we have put together in my time here as a Lobo and I am confident in this group.”
Of UNM’s 22 matches, nine are at home, including five non-conference tilts. Those all start on February 8 when the Lobos host former conference rival BYU at noon in a match that will take place at McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium, weather permitting, otherwise it would move to the Linda Estes Indoor Bubbles. That’s the first of two matches that weekend, as UNM concludes with Northern Colorado on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Leading the way for UNM will be Dominic West and Stepan Holis, who both earned Mountain West All-Conference honors a year ago. West, the lone returning senior on the team, will be once against looked upon as the emotional leader of the Lobos. A year ago he was brilliant, going 23-8 in singles and 15-10 in doubles, and earning a national ranking of 101 in the initial Fall rankings. Holis was the team leader in singles wins, going 24-9 overall, and he went 14-10 in doubles. Both earned All-Mountain West honors and figure to be right there among the best in the league once again.
The other two returners from 2019 are Facundo Bermejo and Nicholas Prieto, both coming off solid seasons. Bermejo was the winner of the French Open Draw of the Arizona Wildcat Invitational. Bermejo led the Lobos with 11 wins in the Fall, and Prieto turned into the missing piece in doubles in 2019 and now is ready to be a full-time contributor.
The looming question is which of the five newcomers will be the major contributors to UNM’s title defense. Alex Maggs and Raul Dobai are freshmen that competed in the Fall, with Dobai winning nine singles matches and Maggs three. Senior transfer Jake Trondson also won seven Fall matches.
Two other freshmen just arrived in Rafael Abdulsalam and Sergio Molina Capin, both of whom bring extensive credentials from the international circuit. The opening weeks of the season may very well be a mix and match in trying to find the best combinations.
After a 14-8 regular season and a perfect 7-0 conference mark, the sting of a 4-3 loss in the Mountain West semifinals of a match that took over four hours is the haunting melody behind the soundtrack of what looks to be a promising 2020. It’s what is motivating this team, and after spending part of 2019 with just six players, it’s why Dunbar added the players he did. That competition for the final four singles slots should keep the entire roster in top shape, and that type of depth has Dunbar ready for 2020.
“We have the deepest team in terms of strength that I have had as head coach here and practices are very competitive which is creating a great atmosphere for improvement.” While on the road right now, Dunbar wants the weekend of February 9 circled for all Lobo fans. “February 8th is our home opener vs BYU at 12 noon. It’s going to be an exciting year!”