Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS – UT Tyler tennis rounded out their quick trip to the Natural State with a matchup against Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon.
The Patriots men would fall behind early, as the Muleriders used a strong effort in the #1 and #2 lines to complete the comeback after
Jordi Garcia Portell and
Trevor Short earned a 6-1 win in line #3. The Muleriders wins in the first two lines would move them ahead 1-0 heading into singles.
The Patriots would respond well, using a straight set win from
Artiom Dorofeev in line #2 by scores of 6-4, 7-5 to even the match. Right behind Dorofeev was
Martin Despodov, who earned a dramatic three set win in scores of 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 to pull the Patriots ahead 2-1.
Daniil Felker would join the Patriots landslide in line #4, coming back from a 4-6 first set loss to earn wins of 6-2, 6-0 to set the Patriots up with a 3-1 lead and match point.
Carel Wessel would be the man of the hour, earning a 7-5, 7-6 (9-7), straight sets win to seal the match for the Patriots and a 2-0 weekend in their two matches.
Over on the women's side, they would also fall behind 1-0 as the Muleriders took line #2 and #3 to advance into singles with the lead.
The Patriots would battle back immediately, as
Carla Rodier earned a 6-3, 6-4 straight sets win in line #3 to even up the match at 1-1.
The Muleriders answered with wins in the #1 and #2 lines of singles, but
Paula Castellanos would respond in the #4 line as she earned a dramatic three set win in scores of 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.
That would make the score 3-2 in favor of the Muleriders, but
Luisa Moraes rallied with a 6-4, 6-2 straight sets win in line #6 to even the match yet again, forcing the match down to the #5 line.
Kanika Sivaraman would earn a tough set one win at 7-6 (7-3), but the Muleriders battled back with a 6-3 win in set two to even the count. That set up a winner take all third set, and the Muleriders would ultimately have the upper hand in a 7-5 win and earn a 4-3 team win.
UT Tyler will return home for a short break before heading out to Orlando, Florida for a trio of matches over the spring break week as they take on Emporia State, Lewis, and Nebraska Kearney.
