By Rani Goodland | St. Mary's Athletics Communications
ARLINGTON, Texas – The St. Mary's Men's Tennis team fell in a 4-3 thriller to Newman University at Arlington Tennis Center in the semifinal of the Heartland Conference tournament on Friday.
The Rattlers started off strong in doubles action, with the top court of junior Jerimiah Gonzalez and senior Jose Antelo winning 6-1. At spot No. 3, Sai Konakanchi and Alex Gee clinched for the Rattlers 6-3. On court No. 2, Bojan Popovic and Brendan Brown were 5-2 up and were unable to finish. This gave the Rattlers a 1-0 lead in the match.
In singles action, St. Mary's had a tough contest. On court No. 1 Jeremiah Gonzalez swept his opponent Lauri Soome in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. On court No. 4, Louis Bonnay won in a tight contest 6-4, 6-4. Senior Jose Antelo fell at the No. 3 position 6-2, 6-4, the Rattlers continued to lead 3-1. The sophomore Alex Gee fell in a three-set thriller on court No. 5, losing 7-5, 3-6, 0-6, and Brendan Brown also fell in a tight contest of three sets 4-6, 6-2, 6-7 (0), bringing the overall score back to 3-3. On court No. 2, the clinch came down to redshirt junior Bojan Popovic. Popovic lost the first in a close 6-4 set, he was able to rally his way back winning the second set 7-5. Unfortunately, the redshirt junior was unable to pull out the match and dropped the third set 6-3 to Arthur Esteves Justo.
Match Breakdown:
St Mary's: 3, Newman: 4
Doubles Competition:
1. Jeremiah Gonzalez/Jose Antelo (STMU) def. Lauri Soome/Arthur Esteves Justo (NU) 6-1
2. Bojan Popovic/Brendan Brown (STMU) vs. Blake Crawford/Szbin Pusztay (NU) 5-2 unfinished
3. Sai Konakanchi/Alex Gee (STMU) def. Marcel Miasato/Teodor Antelj (NU) 6-3
Singles Competition:
1. Jerimiah Gonzalez (STMU) def. Lauri Soome (NU) 6-2 6-4
2. Arthur Esteves Justo (NU) def. Bojan Popovic (STMU) 6-4 5-7 6-3
3. Blake Crawford (NU) def. Jose Antelo (STMU) 6-2 6-4
4. Louis Bonnay (STMU) def. Szbin Pusztay (NU) 6-4 6-4
5. Teodor Antelj (NU) def. Alex Gee (STMU) 5-7 6-3 6-0
6. Marcel Miasato (NU) def. Brendan Brown (STMU) 6-4 2-6 7-6 (0)
