Albuquerque, NM – Despite a strong team effort, BYU men’s tennis dropped two matches against New Mexico on Friday and Saturday, losing both 4-0.
Playing without Zach Fuchs in both singles and doubles and with only doubles play from No. 1 Jack Barnett and No. 5 Brigham Andrus, the Cougars fought hard but came up short while using still injured players Wally Thayne and Mateo Vereau.
“I am proud of the fight we put up today,” said BYU head coach Dave Porter. “We were shorthanded and playing out of position but we fought hard to the end. It was challenging to come outdoors in the sun and wind with even higher altitudes than in Provo. Tennis is a game of adjustments and we will continue to work on adjusting more quickly. We need to heal this week and be ready for Nevada and UC Davis this next weekend in California.”
In day one of doubles play, Wally Thayne and Mateo Vereau finished first with a 6-2 loss to their New Mexico opponents. At No. 1 doubles, Jack Barnett and Tennyson Whiting fought to the end with a close 7-5 loss, giving up the doubles point.
At No. 5 singles, Tennyson Whiting finished first, followed by Otto Schreiner at No. 6 singles, both losing in two sets. In a close first set, Jack Barnett at No. 1 singles tied his opponent at 5-5, eventually falling, 7-5, 3-1. The other singles matches went unfinished.
The Cougars also had a tough go on day two, losing the doubles point with a 6-2 loss at No. 2 doubles and 6-1 loss at No. 3 doubles. In singles play, Thayne lost in a 6-3, 6-3 battle against his New Mexico opponent at No. 1 singles. At No. 6 singles, Tennyson Whiting fell 6-3, 6-2 to finish the match.
BYU men’s tennis will be away again next week, facing University of Nevada and UC Davis on Friday, Feb. 25.
Match Results Day 1:
Doubles:
1. MAGGS, Alex/PUCALKA, Jan (NM) def. Jack Barnett/Tennyson Whiting (BYU) 7-5
2. PRIETO, Nicolas/AZKARA, Arda (NM) def. Wally Thayne/Mateo Vereau (BYU) 6-2
3. ABDULSALAM, Rafael/SAMAHA, Georgio (NM) vs. Matheus Ferreira Lei/Brigham Andrus (BYU) 6-5, unf.
Singles:
1. AZKARA, Arda (NM) def. Jack Barnett (BYU) 7-5, 3-1
2. ABDULSALAM, Rafael (NM) vs. Wally Thayne (BYU) 6-4, 1-1, unf.
3. MAGGS, Alex (NM) vs. Matheus Ferreira Lei (BYU) 0-6, 6-4, unf.
4. KAKHNIUK, Daniil (NM) vs. Mateo Vereau (BYU) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0, unf.
5. PUCALKA, Jan (NM) def. Tennyson Whiting (BYU) 6-4, 6-4
6. SAMAHA, Georgio (NM) def. Otto Schreiner (BYU) 6-1, 6-2
Match Results Day 2:
Doubles:
1. MAGGS, Alex/PUCALKA, Jan (NM) vs. Jack Barnett/Tennyson Whiting (BYU) 5-3, unf.
2. PRIETO, Nicolas/AZKARA, Arda (NM) def. Wally Thayne/Mateo Vereau (BYU) 6-2
3. ABDULSALAM, Rafael/SAMAHA, Georgio (NM) def. Matheus Ferreira Lei/Brigham Andrus (BYU) 6-1
Singles:
1. AZKARA, Arda (NM) def. Wally Thayne (BYU) 6-3, 6-3
2. ABDULSALAM, Rafael (NM) def. Matheus Ferreira Lei (BYU) 6-4, default
3. NOROOZIAN, Aram (NM) vs. Mateo Vereau (BYU) 7-5, 2-3, unf.
4. MAGGS, Alex (NM) vs. Dominik Jakovljevic (BYU) 6-4, 2-2, unf.
5. PUCALKA, Jan (NM) vs. Alex Lin (BYU) 6-4, 4-2, unf.
6. SAMAHA, Georgio (NM) def. Tennyson Whiting (BYU) 6-3, 6-2