SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. --- The Lobos got a singles win from Alberto Perez and another one from Dario Ciobotaru at No. 1. Still, New Mexico couldn't record the comeback, dropping a pair of three-setters late as UNM lost a neutral match to St. Mary's 5-2 at the Ronck Tennis Center at Cal Poly.
The Lobos will play the Mustangs tomorrow at 2 pm in San Luis Obispo.
The Lobos had a golden chance in doubles to take a 1-0 lead after Ciobotaru and Philip Bosing won 6-1 at No. 3 doubles, but Perez and Jakub Prachar couldn't hold serve at 5-4, and eventually lost the last three games to lose 7-5 and drop the doubles point.
That proved key as St. Mary's won two singles matches in straight sets, with Bastien Maxant winning 6-2, 6-3 over Jan Skerbatis and Paulo Etchecoin winning 6-3, 6-4 over Prachar. UNM got one back after the final four singles matches all went to a third set. Perez was the first to finish, coming back with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Francisco Duran to get UNM on the board and make it 3-1.
Cal Poly clinched the win with a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 win by Juan Etchecoin over Tyler Waddock. The match was played out, and Cal Poly won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 as Thibaud Maxant defeated Philip Bosin in his debut at No. 2 singles.
The Lobos picked up the final point for the 5-2 final when Ciobotaru, looking every bit like the heir-apparent No. 1 player for UNM, won a wild match 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 over Finn Dyer.