BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — UTSA's No. 16-ranked doubles team of Joel Rubio and Tomas Stillman remained undefeated on the season, but it was not enough in a 4-3 setback at UAB on Sunday at Lakeshore Tennis Center.
Rubio and Stillman improved to 6-0 after handling Lucas Dirube and Donovan McSeveney at No. 2 doubles, 8-2. However, the Blazers (4-3) won on the other two courts to grab the doubles point and a 1-0 lead heading into singles competition.
The two juniors also scored victories in singles. Rubio, from Arnedo, Spain, downed Stepan Vancurik at No. 3, 6-2, 6-1, while Stillman posted a 6-2, 6-2 sweep of Mitchell Martell at No. 4.
Yannick Junger, a junior from Stuttgart, Germany, outlasted Rafael Rondino at the second spot, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, for the Roadrunners' (3-4) other win.
UAB secured the match with victories by No. 86 Chris Helliar against Diogo Casa at the top position (7-5, 6-3), Donovan McSeveney over Kolby Kilgo at No. 5 (6-1, 6-0) and Luiz Felipe Pinto versus Eric Buchalter on the sixth court (6-2, 6-3).
The Roadrunners will return to action at 12:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Feb. 21, at East Carolina (9-2).
UAB 4, UTSA 3
Doubles
1. Helliar/Martell (UAB) def. Casa/Junger (UTSA) 8-3
2. #16 Rubio/Stillman (UTSA) def. Dirube/McSeveney (UAB) 8-2
3. Pinto/Rondino (UAB) def. Brand/Kamiljanov (UTSA) 8-5
Singles
1. #86 Chris Helliar (UAB) def. Diogo Casa (UTSA) 7-5, 6-3
2. Yannick Junger (UTSA) def. Rafael Rondino (UAB) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
3. Joel Rubio (UTSA) def. Stepan Vancurik (UAB) 6-2, 6-1
4. Tomas Stillman (UTSA) def. Mitchell Martell (UAB) 6-2, 6-2
5. Donovan McSeveney (UAB) def. Kolby Kilgo (UTSA) 6-1, 6-0
6. Luiz Felipe Pinto (UAB) def. Eric Buchalter (UTSA) 6-2, 6-3