Long Day Doesn't Slow Men's Tennis

1/30/2021 9:02:00 PM

HOUSTON – Despite a lot of stops and starts, a cancelled match and a move indoors, the St. Mary's Men's Tennis Team got off to a great start in 2021, sweeping St. Thomas 7-0 on Saturday afternoon with six straight-set victories in singles.

The Rattlers (1-0) started the morning at Prairie View A&M, but rain delays forced a cancellation. The team then traveled to St. Thomas and completed the match at the Giamalva Racket Club.

"Today was a day of patience for both teams," Said Head Coach Bill Macom. "After such a long layoff, they did a great job keeping focused. Each time back on the court, after a rain delay, we got a little better. Fortunately across town, the Giamalva Racket Club was kind enough to stay open late for us to get our match in with St. Thomas."

In the first match for the Rattlers (1-0) since March 8, 2020 the doubles teams set the tone for the match.

At number one doubles, senior Jeremiah Sanchez (Harlingen, Texas) and freshman Nicolas Llosa (Lima, Peru) win 8-2, as did the doubles squad of senior Brendan Brown (Spicewood, Texas) and senior Saisaurav Konakanchi (Plano, Texas) at number three. The duo of freshman Ryan Koth (Boerne, Texas) and senior Leon Hein (Hamburg, Germany) completed the doubles action with an 8-5 victory at number two.

Sanchez, who won the 2020 ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Division II award, dropped only three games at number one, defeating Juan Rodrigo Lopez 6-2, 6-1.

At number four singles, Hein lost only one game to Jace Ware, winning 6-1, 6-0 to give the Rattlers the 3-0 edge.

Llosa was the next to finish, defeating Tyler Head 6-1, 6-2 at number three singles and Konakanchi won 12 straight games at number six, defeating Carson Steele 6-0, 6-0.

Koth was pushed at number two singles, getting a late break in the second set to pull out the 6-3, 7-5 victory and Brown wrapped up the match with a 7-6 (6) tiebreak win in the second set after winning 6-2 in the opening set for the 7-0 team sweep.

"Everyone did a good job staying ahead in each set and were able to out-steady their opponents," Macom continued. "Even though it was a long day and night, it was a great atmosphere and we are all excited to be back competing again."

The Rattlers return to action next Saturday, facing Howard Payne at 10 a.m. and Schreiner at 1:30 p.m. Both matches will be at Schreiner in Kerrville, Texas.

DOUBLES RESULTS
1. Jeremiah Sanchez/Nicolas Llosa (StMU) def. Juan Rodrigo Lopez/Tyler Head, 8-2
2. Ryan Koth/Leon Hein (StMU) def. Race Haas/Jace Ware, 8-5
3. Brendan Brown/Saisaurav Konakanchi (StMU) def. Dorian Cudina/Carson Steele, 8-2
Order of Finish: 1,3,2

SINGLES RESULTS
1. Sanchez (StMU) def. Lopez, 6-2, 6-1
2. Koth (StMU) def. Haas, 6-3, 7-5
3. Llosa (StMU) def. Head, 6-1, 6-2
4. Hein (StMU) def. Ware, 6-1, 6-0
5. Brown (StMU) def. Cudina, 6-2, 7-6 (6)
6. Konakanchi (StMU) def. Steele, 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 1,4,3,6,2,5