SAN ANTONIO — Christian Carrillo outlasted Coleman Wahlborg in a three-set thriller to help UTSA pull out a 4-2 victory on Friday afternoon at the UTSA Tennis Center.
Carrillo fought back from a 7-6 (7-5) setback in the opening set of his singles match on the third court to win the last two sets by 6-4 counts and hand head coach Rodrigo da Silva his first victory leading the Roadrunners (1-3).
UTSA jumped out to a 2-0 lead after claiming the doubles point.
Fabian Brand and Diogo Casa scored a 6-2 triumph against Will Huyton and Arthur Libaud at No. 1 and Carrillo teamed up with Jake Rother for a 6-3 decision over Vlad Kramarov and Wahlborg at No. 3 to help the home team take a 1-0 lead.
In singles, Casa made quick work of Libaud on center court with a 6-2, 6-4 decision and 2-0 advantage for UTSA.
The Ragin’ Cajuns countered with victories at No. 4 singles by Kramarov and No. 6 by Huyton to knot the score at two.
True freshman Takeru Watanabe edged Eric Perez, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 at No. 5 to pull UTSA to within a point of clinching, putting all eyes on Carrillo’s match at No. 3.
The Roadrunners will return to action on Feb. 10 with a home match against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
UTSA 4, Louisiana-Lafayette 2
Doubles
1. Fabian Brand/Diogo Casa (UTSA) def. Will Huyton/Arthur Libaud (ULL) 6-2
2. Edgar Lopez/Eric Perez (ULL) def. Eric Buchalter/Mark Ginting (UTSA) 6-3
3. Christian Carrillo/Jake Rother (UTSA) def. Vlad Kramarov/Coleman Wahlborg (ULL) 6-3
Singles
1. Diogo Casa (UTSA) def. Arthur Libaud (ULL) 6-2, 6-4
2. Jake Rother (UTSA) vs. Edgar Lopez (ULL) 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (9-7), 2-1, unfinished
3. Christian Carrillo (UTSA) def. Coleman Wahlborg (ULL) 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4
4. Vlad Kramarov (ULL) def. Eric Buchalter (UTSA) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Takeru Watanabe (UTSA) def. Eric Perez (ULL) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
6. Will Huyton (ULL) def. Mark Ginting (UTSA) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)