Ragin’ Cajuns finish 17-11 on the season

NEW ORLEANS – Eric Perez was one of two players to force a third set in their respective singles match, but UT Arlington claimed the doubles point and recorded three victories in singles action to defeat the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s tennis team, 4-0, in the Sun Belt Conference Championships on Friday at the UNO University Tennis Center.

UTA (16-10), the No. 5 seed in the field, advanced to the semifinals against top-seeded Georgia State on Saturday at 3 p.m. Louisiana, which had won eight of its last 10 matches heading in the tournament, ended its season at 17-11.

Perez claimed the opening set against UTA’s Carlos Arbiza at No. 5 singles before dropping a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 decision that clinched the match for the Mavs. UTA added singles victories at No. 6 as Mauricio Del Rio defeated Coleman Wahlborg, 6-4, 6-3, while Mario Muniesa earned a 6-2, 6-4 win over Jake Wynan.

The Mavs took a 1-0 lead after claiming the doubles point. Daniel Armengol and Jhonathan Gonzalez claimed a 6-1 win over Edgar Lopez and Perez at No. 1 doubles before Muniesa and Guanarteme Nuez recorded a 6-4 win over Will Huyton and Arthur Libaud at No. 3.

Lopez, who finished his UL career with 98 combined victories in singles and doubles, dropped the first set to Nuez at No. 1 singles, 4-6, before forcing a third set after claiming a 6-3 decision.

UT Arlington 4, Louisiana 0
April 22, 2016 at New Orleans, La. (UNO Tennis Courts)

Singles competition
1. Edgar Lopez (UL) vs. Guanarteme Nuez (UTA) 4-6, 6-3, 2-2, unfinished
2. Arthur Libaud (UL) vs. Jhonathan Gonzalez (UTA) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
3. Mario Muniesa (UTA) def. Jake Wynan (UL) 6-2, 6-4
4. Vlad Kramarov (UL) vs. Daniel Armengol (UTA) 1-6, 5-5, unfinished
5. Carlos Arbiza (UTA) def. Eric Perez (UL) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
6. Mauricio Del Rio (UTA) def. Coleman Wahlborg (UL) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Daniel Armengol/Jhonathan Gonzalez (UTA) def. Edgar Lopez/Eric Perez (UL) 6-1
2. Coleman Wahlborg/Jake Wynan (UL) vs. Carlos Arbiza/Mauricio Del Rio (UTA) 4-5, unfinished
3. Mario Muniesa/Guanarteme Nuez (UTA) def. Will Huyton/Arthur Libaud (UL) 6-4

Match Notes
UT Arlington 16-10
Louisiana 17-11
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,3,5)