Islanders Battle Tough, Fall to No. 11 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas – The 11th-ranked Texas Longhorns became the first team to hand Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's tennis a defeat in 2017 as the Islanders fell 4-0 Sunday at the Weller Tennis Center.
 
Playing indoors at the UT Golf Club, the Islanders had their moments, but fell short in an upset bid. In a match chock-full with back-and-forth battles, it was the nationally-ranked Longhorns who came away with the victory.
 
"I'm very proud of the level we played and competed at today against the number 11 team in the country," said Director of Tennis Steve Moore. "This was a tough, close competitive match. I really loved the unity, spirit and character of our team. These guys are working their tails off, listening and getting better every week. The thing I like the best is our culture and the way we play for each other."
 
Freshman William Mottet highlighted the Islanders' bout with Texas as he was leading at the number four singles spot when play terminated. Mottet rallied for a 7-6 first set victory, including a 7-3 victory in the tiebreak. When play was halted, Mottet led John Mee 4-3 in the second set.
 
Kevin Bettendroffer and Carlos Pedrosa Cuevas were also locked in second set battles when the match came to completion. Bettedroffer dropped his first set 3-6 and was trailing 3-5 in the second. Pedrosa Cuevas fell 4-6 in the first set and was also down 3-5 in the second.
 
Texas opened singles play with a win at five. Freshman Gonzalo Achondo fell to Julian Zlobinsky 6-2, 6-1 as the Longhorns took a 2-0 lead. Islanders senior Paul Cook battled neck-and-neck with Rodrigo Banzer at three, but the Longhorn was eventually able to provide distance for a 6-4, 6-2 victory and 3-0 Texas lead.
 
Rookie Cagatay Soke traded sets throughout his match at number two, but it was Leo Telles who would clinch the match for the Longhorns. Despite a valiant effort, Soke dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision at the number two spot.
 
In doubles play, the 27th-ranked pairing of Yuya Ito and Harrison Scott topped Bettendroffer and Mottet 6-1 at the top spot. Soke and Paul Cook were felled by a 6-2 score at number two. 
 
"I am very proud of the effort today," said Moore. "I've always had the same message: We evaluate on the things we can control, on the spirit and intensity we compete with and not on wins and losses. We just lost to a better team today and a team that will compete for a national title under an incredible coach in Michael Center."
 
WEEK AHEAD
 
Islanders tennis returns to action with the women challenging SMU in a battle of undefeated clubs on Wednesday night. The Islander women currently hold the nation's longest regular-season winning streak at 25 consecutive matches. The men will follow with a Thursday bout at UT Arlington.