MTennis Heads West for Back-to-Back Matches
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The No. 69 University of Miami men’s tennis team will have a busy weekend, as they head to Lubbock, Texas, for back-to-back matches against No. 58 Texas Tech on Friday, March 1 followed by a match on Saturday, March 2 against New Mexico. The Hurricanes are currently 3-2 in road matches and 6-3 overall on the dual season.
Despite tallying a pair of singles wins, Miami dropped a 5-2 decision in their last match against No. 62 North Florida on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
North Florida got off to a strong start in doubles competition, as they defeated the No. 1 tandem of Wilfredo Gonzalez and Marco Stancati, 8-3. Competition was closely contested on courts two and three, but the Ospreys picked up a break and held on for a 9-7 victory over Omar Aly and Gabriel Flores at No. 2 doubles.
Miami began singles play shorthanded as junior Gabriel Flores sustained an injury during doubles competition and retired for the afternoon. Newcomer William Albanese highlighted singles play for the Canes, defeating Pedro Davisson 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 5 singles position. Replacing Flores at the No. 2 spot, Wilfredo Gonzalez came out on top in a three-set match, as he outlasted Daniel Sotomarino 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10-4), giving the Canes their final point of the day.
Diego Soto will look to bounce back from his tough lost last week, as he dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision at No. 1 singles against No. 96 Moritz Buerchner. Omar Aly played in the only other three-set match of the day, battling his opponent in a 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4) defeat. At No. 6 singles, Henrique Tsukamoto fell to Leonardo Nahar in straight sets, losing 6-1, 6-1. Senior Victor Mauz fought hard in his match but came up short in a, 6-3, 6-1 defeat.
Texas Tech enters Friday’s match fresh off a 6-1 victory over Tulane on Feb. 24 in New Orleans, La. The Red Raiders are currently 6-3 on the dual season, with a 4-0 record at home.
New Mexico is coming off their first home loss of the season to then-No. 41 Northwestern on Feb. 24 in Albuquerque, N.M. The loss dropped the Lobos’ record to 5-6. New Mexico is also 0-3 on the season in matches held at neutral sites.
Miami has fared well against ranked opposition this season, posting a 5-3 record. This weekend’s doubleheader will give the Hurricanes’ its ninth match against a ranked opponent this season.
For more information on the University of Miami men’s tennis team, log on to HurricaneSports.com. To follow the UM men’s tennis team socially, visit Twitter.com/CanesMensTennis and facebook.com/MiamiHurricanesMensTennis
