SMU Tennis Advances To Sweet 16
LUBBOCK, TEXAS (SMU) – The SMU men’s tennis team advances to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Championship after upsetting No. 8 Texas Tech, 4-2. Due to weather issues for the second straight day, the first serve was dealt at 5:30 p.m. CT, from its original scheduled time of 1 p.m. CT.
The Mustangs make their first trip to the third round of the NCAA Championship since 2001.
“This was a tremendous all-around team win for us,” said Head Coach Carl Neufeld. “It’s only fitting that our 5th-year seniorNate Lammons sealed the win for us. There is too much to say about him, having graduated with his undergrad and master’s in Engineering, missing his commencement because of the tournament and advancing us to the Sweet 16 is fantastic.”
SMU opened the match claiming the doubles point with wins on court one and three. The No. 31 duo of Hunter and Yates Johnson made light of their opponents, Alex Sendegeya and Bjorn Thomson, beating them 6-3. The pair of Samm Butler andRonald Slobodchikov gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead after defeating Carlos DiLaura and Hugo Dojas 7-5.
Hunter, the No. 73 singles player gave SMU their first singles win of the evening, taking down No. 19 Felipe Soares in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Butler extended SMU’s lead to 3-0 after a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sendegeya. After Texas Tech claimed the next two singles matches to make it 3-2, Lammons the No. 112 won a tough three-set match against No. 98 Dojas, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.
“This match had all the drama, including a four and a half hour rain delay, them being the co-Big 12 champions and only have lost one home match in two years coming into today,” said Neufeld. In singles, to beat a team like this at the top three spots and two of those players being ranked is an incredible feat and I couldn’t be happier and proud for guys.”
SMU faces No. 9-seeded Florida on Friday at 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT at Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
