DALLAS, Texas – In a clash of two nationally ranked teams, No. 65 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi suffered its first loss at the hands of No. 51 SMU on the indoor courts of the SMU Tennis Complex Thursday night.
The match, originally schedule for an outdoor showdown, was moved inside the Tennis Complex due to weather conditions.
In their first meeting with a ranked foe this season, the Islanders (5-1) opened in strong fashion by taking the doubles point. It would take a rally from the Blue and Green as SMU raced to a 6-0 win on court two, but the Islanders were up to task. The duo of Paul Cook and Mitchell Cook leveled doubles play a 1-1 with a 6-4 win on court three, improving their season mark to 2-0 on the season.
That left the top pairing to decide the doubles point as the Islanders' Kevin Bettendroffer and Arthur Bedel in a duel with Nate Lammons and Markus Kerner. A&M-Corpus Christi would clinch the opening point of the match with a 6-4 victory over the Mustangs top billed team.
With the doubles point in hand, the Islanders needed three singles decisions to clinch a victory over the Mustangs, but SMU had other ideas. The hosts rattled off four, two-set singles victories to flip the tables and rally from the early deficit.
It started with Kerner at the No. 4 slot, who rebounded from his doubles lost to earn the Mustangs' first point of the night. Kerner knocked off Javier Pujol, 6-2, 6-0, to level the match at 1-1.
After taking the first sets on all six courts, the Mustangs seized on the momentum to quickly close out the Islanders following Kerner's victory. On court three, Nate Lammons upended Guillaume Rauseo, 6-3, 6-2, to stake a 2-1 SMU lead. Moments later, Samm Butler handed Islander Ricardo Mayagoitia his first singles loss of the season with a 6-2, 6-2, decision.
Hunter Johnson would land the closing blow for the Mustangs, taking down Kevin Bettendroffer at No. 1, 6-3, 6-1, to hand the Islanders their first loss of the season.
Arthur Bedel and Paul Cook each left their matches unfinished after dropping hard-fought first sets. Both Bedel and Cook served for the opening set on courts five and six, but eventually fell 7-5. Bedel trailed 5-1 in the second while Cook sat at 2-2 when the match ended.
MOORE'S THOUGHTS
On taking the doubles point…
"We got off to a great start by winning the doubles point. I thought we brought tremendous spirit and tenacity at the beginning of the match."
On the turning point…
"We lost some momentum by letting sets slip away at 5 and 6. The key indoors against a team like that was going to be keeping it close so they weren't playing their 'A'-game with freedom. "
On growing from first loss…
"Give SMU credit, they are extremely tough and physical indoors. They say you're either winning or you're learning. We definitely learned a lot about things we need to improve to beat team of this caliber. We'll see this level of team over and over this season. This is tough group of guys and a high character group that I really believe in. I know they are going to fight through this and be better for it. Tonight presents a great opportunity to get better."
On getting back to the courts tomorrow…
"College tennis is about every player playing every point with intensity. Once you get to a certain level, it's about who can get all six guys to play each point with intensity. We look forward to a renewed challenge tomorrow at St. Edward's and the opportunity maxing out everything we can."
UP NEXT
The Islanders will get a chance to bounce back immediately as the Blue and Green travel to San Antonio to take on St. Edward's Friday afternoon.
Tennis Match Results
Texas A&M Corpus Christi vs SMU Feb 04, 2016 at Dallas, Texas
#51 SMU 4, #65 Texas A&M Corpus Christi 1
Singles competition
1. Hunter Johnson (SMU) def. Kevin Bettendroffer (TAMCC) 6-3, 6-1
2. Samm Butler (SMU) def. Ricardo Mayagoitia (TAMCC) 6-2, 6-2
3. Nate Lammons (SMU) def. Guillaume Rauseo (TAMCC) 6-3, 6-2
4. Markus Kerner (SMU) def. Javier Pujol (TAMCC) 6-2, 6-0
5. Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) vs. Arthur Bedel (TAMCC) 7-5, 5-1, unfinished
6. Yates Johnson (SMU) vs Paul Cook (TAMCC) 7-5, 3-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Kevin Bettendroffer/Arthur Bedel (TAMCC) def. Nate Lammons/Markus Kerner (SMU) 6-4
2. Yates Johnson/Hunter Johnson (SMU) def. Ricardo Mayagoitia/Guillaume Rauseo (TAMCC) 6-0
3. Mitchell Cook/Paul Cook (TAMCC) def. Arkadijs Slobodkins/Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Texas A&M Corpus Christi 5-1; National ranking #65
SMU 4-2; National ranking #51
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,3,2,1) T-2:00
