LUBBOCK – UTSA dropped a 4-2 decision against No. 24 Texas Tech to open the dual-match season on Monday afternoon at The Falls Athletic Club.
The Roadrunners (0-1) dropped the doubles decision, but picked up points at Nos. 2 and 3 singles.
Juri Reckow posted a come-from-behind, three-set win over Artem Kapshuk at the second position. The sophomore from Hamburg, Germany, lost the first frame 7-6 (7-4), but rallied to win the next two by identical 6-3 scores to claim the matchup.
Meanwhile, Reckow's classmate, Kai Breitbach, posted a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 win at the third spot to pick up UTSA's only other point of the match.
UTSA head coach Rodrigo da Silva's comments on the match
"I am extremely proud in the way the guys competed. It was a tough battle with a team that is usually ranked in the top 25.
"Doubles was super competitive and the guys had chances. We didn't capitalize on it. In singles, they didn't let down. It was a super competitive match. It was an interesting situation with the court because we had to play indoors. We had a good chance to come out with a win, but I'm extremely proud in how the guys competed.
"I'm looking forward to playing Texas on Friday and see if we can compete in the same way."
Final results
Doubles
1. Curry/Leite (TTU) def. Bugiga/Reckow (UTSA) 6-3
2. Kapshuk/Valiev (TTU) def. Carrillo/Breitbach (UTSA) 6-4
3. Ceolin/Gonzalez (UTSA) vs. Bloss/Cobb (TTU) 5-5, unfinished
Singles
1. Connor Curry (TTU) def. Gabriel Bugiga (UTSA) 6-1, 6-1
2. Juri Reckow (UTSA) def. Artem Kapshuk (TTU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-3
3. Kai Breitbach (UTSA) def. Ilgiz Valiev (TTU) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
4. Jackson Cobb (TTU) def. Javier Gonzalez (UTSA) 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3
5. Matheus Leite (TTU) def. Joao Ceolin (UTSA) 6-3, 6-3
6. Christian Carrillo (UTSA) vs. Pyry Hyrkkonen (TTU) 5-2, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,3,2,5,4)
Up next
UTSA will travel up I-35 to Austin to meet up with 8th-ranked Texas (0-0) on Friday, Jan. 19. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the Texas Tennis Center.
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UTSA falls in spring opener at No. 24 Texas Tech, 4-2
