SAN ANTONIO — Playing its first home match since Feb. 10, the UTSA men's tennis team got back on the winning track with a 4-1 victory against crosstown rival Incarnate Word on Friday afternoon at the UTSA Tennis Center.
Coming off an 11-match road swing, the Roadrunners (3-14) scored their second consecutive and fourth all-time win against the Cardinals (7-9) and snapped a three-match losing streak in the process.
UTSA took an early lead by snagging the doubles point.
Christian Carrillo and Joao Riquelme teamed up for a 6-4 win against Tucker Brown and Ryan Hoverson at No. 3. Eric Buchalter and Takeru Watanabe then clinched the 1-0 advantage with a 6-3 triumph over Sebastian Mortier and Joey Vatanadilok on the second court.
In singles, Buchalter stretched the home team's lead to 2-0 with a 6-4, 6-2 sweep of Vatanadilok at No 2.
UIW got on the board when Francisco Bendana downed Carrillo, 6-4, 7-5, on court three.
UTSA responded with a 6-4, 6-3 win by Riquelme against Mortier at No. 4, pulling the Roadrunners to within one of securing the victory.
Diogo Casa provided the decisive point when he bounced Josip Smoljan, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, at No 1.
The Roadrunners will hit the road to Beaumont for a 3 p.m. contest at Lamar (9-5) on Tuesday, March 29.
UTSA 4, Incarnate Word 1
Doubles
1. Fabian Brand/Diogo Casa (UTSA) vs. Francisco Bendana/Josip Smoljan (UIW) 5-3, unfinished
2. Eric Buchalter/Takeru Watanabe (UTSA) def. Sebastian Mortier/Joey Vatanadilok (UIW) 6-3
3. Christian Carrillo/Joao Riquelme (UTSA) def. Tucker Brown/Ryan Hoverson (UIW) 6-4
Singles
1. Diogo Casa (UTSA) def. Josip Smoljan (UIW) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2. Eric Buchalter (UTSA) def. Joey Vatanadilok (UIW) 6-4, 6-2
3. Francisco Bendana (UIW) def. Christian Carrillo (UTSA) 6-4, 7-5
4. Joao Riquelme (UTSA) def. Sebastian Mortier (UIW) 6-4, 6-3
5. Takeru Watanabe (UTSA) vs. Tucker Brown (UIW) 6-4, 5-5, unfinished
6. Ryan Hoverson (UIW) vs. Fabian Brand (UTSA) 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,3,4,1)