Men's Tennis Wins Final Non-Conference Battle

GEORGETOWN, Texas – In the final non-conference tune-up of the season, the St. Mary's Men's Tennis Team defeated Southwestern, 6-3 on Tuesday evening.
 
The Rattlers (11-2) saw four singles ladder positions win in straight sets and another in a three-set battle for five of the six points. The other was an 8-3 victory at No. 2 doubles by freshman Niklas Knoerr (Tübingen, Germany) and sophomore Nicolas Llosa (Lima, Peru) who improved to a perfect 8-0 in duals together.
 
After Southwestern took a 2-1 lead in doubles play, the Rattlers got right to work in singles action.
 
Senior Pablo Munoz Baroja (San Sebastian, Spain) dropped only four games in a 6-3, 6-1 victory at number three to knot the match at 2-2. Sophomore Oskar Irdoja (Tallinn, Estonia) gave the Rattlers the lead they'd never relinquish with a 7-6 (7), 6-4 victory at No. 5. 
 
Senior Chad Nguyen (College Station, Texas) also needed a tiebreaker to win the first set at No. 1, but the second set was much easier as he won 7-6 (2), 6-1. Llosa clinched the match for the Gold & Blue with his 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 6.
 
After dropping the first set, San Antonio sophomore Jake Faryniarz fought back to win in three, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. Knoerr battled tough at No. 4 but eventually fell 6-4, 2-6, 4-6 for the third Pirate point.
 
The Rattlers now turn their attention to Lone Star Conference play, hosting UAFS on Thursday at 3:30 before welcoming Cameron to the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels on Friday at 10 a.m.