SMU Tennis Loses At Arkansas

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (SMU) – The SMU Mustangs continued their winning ways in doubles play, but could not hold on for the match as they lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon.

SMU (9-2) took the first point of the match by winning at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, extending the team’s unbeaten streak in doubles play this season. Senior Arturs Kazijevs and sophomore Markus Kerner beat Santiago Munoz and Branch Terrell, 6-3 at No. 1, and then junior Nate Lammons paired with sophomore Arkadijs Slobodkins to win at the No. 2 spot, 6-4. Lammons and Slobodkins have not lost in their last eight matches.

The Mustangs then took a 2-0 lead with freshman Samm Butler winning at No. 3 singles, 6-4, 6-1, over Arkansas’ Johan den Toom. Butler’s win, which was the only one of the match to finish in straight sets, marked his sixth straight in singles play, dating back to Feb. 8.

Arkansas picked up its first point with Munoz topping Slobodkins at No. 5 singles. Slobodkins took the first set 6-1, but Munoz rebounded to take the final two sets 7-5, 6-1. The defeat marked Slobodkins’ first since Jan. 24. Arkansas then won at the No. 1 and 6 positions to take a 3-2 edge.

The match came down to action on courts 2 and 4. Lammons’ battle with William Albanese at No. 4 would decide the winner. Lammons took the first set 6-3, but Albanese turned the tables in set two, also winning 6-3. A lengthy tiebreaker in the third set ultimately was won by Albanese, 7-6 (9).

The Razorbacks came into the match ranked 56th nationally. SMU was playing in its first road match of the spring, opening the year with 10 straight home matches at the new SMU Tennis Complex.

The Mustangs will return home for a match with Eastern Washington on Friday at 3 p.m. CT.