Men’s Tennis: Men’s Tennis Falls in HEB Tournament of Champions Final

Contact: Jeff Schneider
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns men’s tennis team fell 4-1 to No.55 New Mexico in the HEB Tournament of Champions Final on a windy Saturday in Corpus Christi, Texas.
 
“Having to play at a different location that was really windy for the championship really affected our team,” head coach Mark Jeffrey said. “It was disappointing that we didn’t win the tiebreaker in the doubles point. The momentum from doubles seemed to carry over into singles play, and that really hurt us. I think we are better than New Mexico but the result didn’t go our way today.”
 
“Overall this was a good tournament for our team that will help us down the stretch when it comes to postseason play,” Jeffrey added. “I think Rick (DeGroot) did a great job today again for us, and Jarred Wynan played well at No.6.”
 
UL (7-5) went 3-2 on the week and was 2-2 against ranked opponents including three matches against ranked opponents at the HEB Tournament of Champions.
 
The Lobos got out to a 1-0 lead after Jadon Phillips and Matthew Neeld defeated Rick DeGroot and Carlin Murray at No.2 doubles in a close match, 9-8.
 
New Mexico went on to win at No. 2, No.3 and No.5 singles to clinch the dual match. Jarred Wynan had the lone win for the Cajuns defeating Mitch McDaniels 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 at the No.6 position.
 
The Cajuns return to action on Wednesday at 2 p.m. when they host in-state rival Nicholls State at Cajun Courts.
 
#55 New Mexico 4, Louisiana 1
 
 Singles competition
1. Jadon Phillips (UNM) vs. Rick DeGroot (UL) 6-7, 6-1, 2-3, unfinished
2. Ben Dunbar (UNM) def. Carlin Murray (UL) 6-4, 6-4
3. Conor Berg (UNM) def. Ted Nilsson (UL) 6-4, 2-6, 6-0
4. Samir Iftikhar (UNM) vs. Yanick Mandl (UL) 1-6, 6-4, 0-0, unfinished
5. Carl Ho (UNM) def. Damian Farinola (UL) 6-4, 6-2
6. Jarred Wynan (UL) def. Mitch McDaniels (UNM) 5-7, 6-1, 6-0
 
 Doubles competition
1. Conor Berg/Ben Dunbar (UNM) def. Brandon Farine/Yanick Mandl (UL) 8-3
2. Jadon Phillips/Matthew Neeld (UNM) def. Rick DeGroot/Carlin Murray (UL) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Damian Farinola/Jarred Wynan (UL) def. Carl Ho/James Hignett (UNM) 8-4
 
Match Notes:
Louisiana 7-5
New Mexico 10-4; National ranking #55
New Mexico wins 46th Annual HEB Tournament of Champions
 

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