SAN ANTONIO — The UTSA men's tennis team fell behind early and was unable to recover in a 5-2 season-opening home loss to Laredo Community College on Saturday afternoon.
The Palominos (1-0), ranked No. 4 in the ITA Junior College Poll, collected the doubles point after pulling out back-to-back 9-8 victories at Nos. 1 and 3 doubles. The duo of junior Pedro Zanotelli and freshman Yannick Junger earned the Roadrunners' only doubles win after edging Jair Assuncao and Felipe Baptista, 8-6.
UTSA battled back to tie the match when senior Daniel Moreiras made quick work of Guilherme Narducci in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 6 singles.
However, Laredo promptly regained the lead by winning the next two matches, including a three-set battle at the top singles spot, where Bruno Kliskinic topped sophomore Martin Ayala, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Senior Max Stratmann pulled the Roadrunners within one after winning his match in three sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-3) at the No. 5 position against Felipe Baptista, but the Palominos clinched the victory when Jair Assuncao ousted sophomore Tyler Brown, 7-6 (7), 6-3, at the No. 2 slot.
UTSA returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 5, in a non-conference home match with St. Edward's. First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m.
#4 Laredo Community College 5, UTSA 2
Doubles
1. Kliskinic/Casela (LCC) def. Ayala/Moreiras, 9-8 (3)
2. Junger/Zanotelli (UTSA) def. Assuncao/Baptista (LCC), 8-6
3. Bugiga/Raffaelli (LCC) def. Brown/Stratmann (UTSA), 9-8 (9)
Singles
1. Bruno Kliskinic (LCC) def. Martin Ayala (UTSA), 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
2. Jair Assuncao (LCC) def. Tyler Brown (UTSA), 7-6(7), 6-3
3. Antoine Raffaelli (LCC) def. Yannick Junger (UTSA), 6-4, 6-3
4. Rafael Coutinho (LCC) def. Pedro Zanotelli (UTSA), 6-7 (7), 7-5, 1-0 (10-8)
5. Max Stratmann (UTSA) def. Felipe Baptista (LCC), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Daniel Moreiras (UTSA) def. Guilherme Narducci (LCC), 6-0, 6-3
