TYLER, Texas — A busy week for the St. Mary's University Men's Tennis team didn't start the way the team had hoped, as they dropped a 7-0 decision at No. 6 UT Tyler on Friday afternoon.
 
The Rattlers are now 13-5 on the year and 3-3 in Lone Star Conference play, while the Patriots improve to 19-4 overall and 6-1 in league action. StMU has two regular-season matches remaining and currently holds down the fifth and final spot in the LSC standings to advance to the conference tournament.
 
"We are too good of a team to be swept 7-0," said Director of Tennis Bill Macom. "In doubles and singles, our first serve percentage was way too low, and against a strong team like UT Tyler, that low percentage serving puts them immediately in charge of too many points."
 
Sophomore Florian Smalto (Paris, France) won 6-4 in his first set at #3 singles against No. 22 Malo Poulesquen, but dropped the next two sets 6-1, 10-3.
 
Freshman Diego Alvarez (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) won the first set and trailed 5-3 in the second set when he was forced to retire with an injury.
 
The Rattlers face league newcomer UT Dallas at 10:30 on Saturday morning before hustling home to take on Midwestern State on Sunday at 2 p.m. in a