April 17, 2015 DENVER -- The No. 46 University of Denver men's tennis team (16-8, 6-0 Summit League) could not upset No. 41 New Mexico Friday at Lifetime Fitness. The Pioneers fell to the Lobos, 4-3.
Denver fell behind early when they lost the doubles point. New Mexico would win on courts one and two, 6-4 to take the point.
"A little disappointing to lose today to a good New Mexico team," said Head Coach Danny Westerman. "I thought we played very well at a few spots and thought we could've done a bit better at others. But we have to give New Mexico credit."
With the score at, 2-0 No. 107 junior Henry Craig defeated Denver native Hayden Sabatka, 6-3, 6-4. The Lobos would push the lead to, 3-1 when sophomore Yannik James would defeat James Hignett, 6-3, 7-5. With the score, 3-2 the Lobos would earn the match victory. No. 109 sophomore Diogo Rocha defeated No. 86 Samir Iftikhar, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
"Both teams know each other very well and they outplayed us today," said Westerman. "We have another week to prepare for the Summit League tournament. We still need to get another level better."
Next up for the Pioneers is the Summit League Championship tournament. The tournament will begin on Thursday, April 23 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Doubles competition
1. Sabatka, Hayden/Van Leijsen, Bart (UNM) def. #34 CRAIG, Henry/GASSON, Alex (MDEN) 6-4
2. Ge, Augustus/Hignett, James (UNM) def. ROCHA, Diogo/JAMES, Yannik (MDEN) 6-4
3. FOX, David/RUDER-HOOK, JESSE (MDEN) vs. Iftikhar, Samir/McDaniels, Mitchell (UNM) unfinished
Singles competition
1. #107 Craig, Henry (MDEN) def. Sabatka, Hayden (UNM) 6-3, 6-4
2. #109 Rocha, Diogo (MDEN) def. #86 Iftikhar, Samir (UNM) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
3. McDaniels, Mitchell (UNM) def. Gasson, Alex (MDEN) 6-2, 6-4
4. Van Leijsen, Bart (UNM) def. Fox, David (MDEN) 6-2, 6-2
5. James, Yannik (MDEN) def. Hignett, James (UNM) 6-3, 7-5
6. Ge, Augustus (UNM) def. Lovera, Wyatt (MDEN) 7-6, 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,1,3,5,6,2)Ă‚
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