SALT LAKE -- The No. 72-ranked BYU men's tennis team fell just short of clinching its fifth consecutive win as New Mexico defeated the Cougars in a grueling 4-3 come-from-behind win today claiming sole possession of the regular season conference title. Last year the Cougars shared the title with the Lobos along with San Diego State.
BYU clinched the important doubles point early in the match with wins at all three spots, but the Lobos were too strong in singles pushing past the Cougars after being down 3-2 in the match.
"They were very tough today," head coach Brad Pearce said. "It was a disappointing loss today, especially after being up one point."
The deciding match was at the No. 5 spot where Cougar Dominik Kaufhold defeated Jasmin Hodzic in the first set but fell in the second, giving New Mexico the victorious fourth point.
Erik Nyman (No. 50) fell at the No. 1 position to No. 27-ranked Divan Cotzee of New Mexico 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. However, the Cougars saw wins from Nima Roshan and Alonzo Medina.
The BYU men's tennis team will head home to prepare for the Mountain West Conference Championships in San Diego April 29-May 1.
BYU 3, New Mexico 4Doubles:
Nyman/Roshan (BYU) def. (UNM) 9-7
Dasek/Kaufhold (BYU) def. (UNM) 8-4
Hand/Medina (BYU) def. (UNM) 8-5
Singles:
Divan Cotzee (UNM) def. Erik Nyman (BYU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
David Kowalski (UNM) def. Richard Dasek (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
Ryan Stotland (UNM) def. Chip Hand (BYU) 6-2, 6-1
Nima Roshan (BYU) def. Henry Gers (UNM) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
Jasmin Hodzic (UNM) def. Dominik Kaufhold (BYU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Alonzo Medina (BYU) def. Robert Grzeskowiak (UNM) 6-3, 7-6
Final Conference Matches
PROVO -- After tacking on two more wins over the weekend in a thrilling double header, the No. 73-ranked BYU men's tennis team continues conference play as it faces Utah, Air Force and No. 66 New Mexico in Salt Lake City April 15-17 respectively. All three matches will be hosted by the University of Utah and begin at 2:00 p.m. at the Canyon Racquet Club.
"We are really excited about the wins last week," head coach Brad Pearce said. "We feel ready for these three conference matches. The team has worked hard to get to this point."
Thursday's match-up will feature the 9-9 Utes of the University of Utah. The Utes are coming off a 6-0 loss to UNLV two weeks ago. Leading the Utes this year is Roeland Brateanu from Amsterdam, Netherlands, a college transfer from the University of Arizona. Against UNLV, Brateanu went three sets against No.77 Henner Nehles.
Air Force lost its third straight conference match on Sunday falling to No. 70 UNLV 4-2. the Falcons are 12-11 overall with wins over such teams as Northern Colorado, Northern Arizona and Montana.
On Saturday, the Cougars will face New Mexico. The BYU men's team is 2-1 in the last three seasons against the Lobos. Along with the Cougars, New Mexico clinched the conference championship in 2003.
"These are important matches for us," Pearce said. "All of our conference matches are tough this season. We can't look past anybody."
