Arkansas Squeaks Past Lobos 4-3

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the second time this season, UNM was just that close.  The Lobos picked up three singles wins but fell in doubles as UNM lost 4-3 for the second time this season, this time at Arkansas.

The Lobos earned singles wins by Arda Azkara, Arthur Bellegy and Georgio Samaha, but UNM couldn’t get a fourth singles win that was needed.

UNM fell behind 1-0 after doubles when UNM lost Nos. 1 and 3 doubles, with Azkara and Alex Maggs losing 6-3 and Ryoma Matsushita and Avery Tallakson losing 6-2.

Singles turned into a wild affair as four of the six singles matches went three sets.  Georgia Samaha won in straight sets 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) over Alan Sau Franco for a 1-1 tie, although Rafael Abdulsalam lost 6-4, 6-4 to Benedict Emesz.

Abdulsalam’s match, despite it just two sets, was a long, drawn out match.  Aram Noroozian actually had his three-setter finish prior.  After losing his opening set 6-4, he bounced back with a 6-3 second set win, but at 1-1, he lost the final five games, twice being broken.

Azkara, ranked 122nd, faced off with the nation’s 117th-ranked Gerard Planelles, and after felling in the first set 6-2, Azkara took over, winning 12 of the final 15 games in taking a three setter to make it 3-2.

UNM needed Arthur Bellegy and Alex Maggs to win their third sets, but it wasn’t to be.  Maggs, who won his opening set 6-4 before tripping up in the second by the same score, suffered a pair of late breaks to fall 6-2 in the third.

With the match wrapped up, Bellegy and Melvin Manuel closed out their match, which was 5-5 in the third.  Both held serve, but Bellegy was able to prevail 7-5 in the third-set tiebreak for his 11th win of the season.

UNM will have to bounce back quickly as UNM takes on South Alabama a noon Mountain on Saturday.

NOTES: Samaha increased his team-best winning streak to seven … Samaha and Bellegy each have a team-best 11 wins … Azkara and Samaha are both 3-0 in the spring in singles.