Lobos Triumphant Over South Alabama 6-1

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  — After getting edged 4-3 by Arkansas yesterday, the Lobos left zero doubt on Saturday, winning the doubles point and then snagging all four singles matches that went three sets for a 6-1 victory over South Alabama that evened New Mexico’s record at 2-2.

A day after getting tripped up in the doubles point, UNM came out on fire and swept it against the Jaguars.  Ryoma Matsushita and Avery Tallakson got UNM off on the right foot with a blistering 6-1 win in their no. 3 doubles match, and then it was a race to see who would finish first.  Georgio Samaha and Nicolas Recoura did the honors 7-5 at No. 2 doubles with the No. 1 pairing of Arda Azkara and Alex Maggs leading 5-4.

In singles, the day played out similar to yesterday, with UNM and USA splitting the six opening sets.  Two matches would end in straight sets, with Arthur Bellegy continuing his roll, taking a third straight win with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Javier Montoya at No. 3.  South Alabama got on the board when Rostislav Halfinger nipped Aram Noroozian 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 to make it 2-1 UNM.

At 2-1, all the remaining singles matches went to a third set, but UNM took all four.  Rafael Abdulsalam bounced back from an opening set loss for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5, and then 122nd-ranked Azkara won 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 over Jack Clements for his fourth straight win to clinch the win.

The final two matches played out, and Georgio Samaha finished off a tight 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win for his team-best eighth straight win.  All that was left was Alex Maggs at No. 6, and he was able to take a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 win to finish off a 6-1 victory.

UNM is off next week and then plays three at home the following weekend, hosting Louisiana on Friday, February 9 at 4 pm before hosting a pair of matches on Super Bowl Sunday, taking on Utah at noon and then Western New Mexico at 4 p.m.