Men Drop Close One To No. 71 W&M 4-3

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Playing without No. 1 Arda Azkara in singles, ranked No. 93, and with two freshmen in the lineup, UNM was edged by No. 71 William & Mary 4-3 as UNM finished its East Coast swing 2-1 and completed a grueling five matches in nine days.

UNM, now 9-6, has just one match over the next 12 days, a drivable road match at Northern Arizona before opening conference play against nationally-ranked Utah State on March 28 at home.

UNM did have Azkara for doubles, and he and Alex Maggs picked up a 6-2 win at No. 1, and that was coupled with Avery Tallakson and Ryomo Matsushita, who won 6-3 at No. 3 doubles for a 1-0 lead.

Then, it seemed everything was going right for UNM as the Lobos swept the opening six first sets in singles, needing just three wins.  However, only Tallakson was able to earn a straight-set win, as everyone else went to a third.  He won 6-2, 6-2 over Bill Duo for give UNM a 2-0 lead.

William & Mary would win four of the five third sets to win the match.  Arthur Bellegy, moving into Azkara’s No. 1 spot, lost 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, but UNM answered quickly when Nicolas Recoura, in just his second dual match of his career, and first against a Division I opponent, won 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to make it 3-1.  UNM then couldn’t close out any of the last three matches, including a match point.

Georgio Samaha lost at No. 3 7-5, 1-6, 4-6 and then Aram Noroozian, moving back up to No. 2, lost 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 1-6 to former Nevada foe Satchel Benn.  William & Mary clinched it with a 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-2 win over Alex Maggs.