SAN ANTONIO — Playing its third match in three days, the St. Mary's University Tennis team ran into a tough Midwestern State squad, dropping a 4-0 decision on the final day of the regular season.
The Mustangs, ranked No. 24 in the ITA, earned the fourth seed at the Lone Star Conference Championship with the win, while the Rattlers will be the fifth seed, and the two teams will meet again in the first round of the tournament on April 30.
"We certainly had a lot of opportunities today and came up short," said Director of Tennis
Bill Macom. "At least we have another opportunity on Thursday to play them and make some adjustments."
MSU won all three doubles matches, though the Rattlers' number three tandem of
Lincoln Baldonado (Glendale, Ariz.) and
Nikita Gavrilonoks (Riga, Latvia) pushed the Mustangs to the end for the 7-5 final.
The Mustangs won the three even singles matches in straight sets to clinch the win, while the Rattlers had won the first set in all the odd-numbered matches that were unfinished.
Sophomore
Lucas Castillo Sanchez (Wesley Chapel, Fla.) took the first set from #17 Germano Setti, and Setti had a 5-2 lead in the second when the match was called. Junior
Leonardo Fabbri won his first set 6-4 on court three and trailed 4-1 in the second, while Gavrilonoks broke late for the 7-5 win in the first set, and the two were on serve in the second set, 2-1.
