HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville tennis teams fell on Saturday to visiting Valdosta State as the men's team fell in a competitive 6-3 match to the 24th-ranked Blazers while the women's squad dropped a tough 8-1 decision.
The men slipped to 8-6 on the season as VSU took a 2-1 lead out of doubles.
“We really came out and tried to take the fight to them,” Head Coach Daniel Finn said. “We just didn't land the right punch.”
After the No. 1 doubles team lost, the No. 3 pairing of
Christopher Kano and
Guillermo Reyes pulled the Chargers even at 1-1 in the match with an 8-4 win. The No. 2 pairing of
Jose Soto and
Raphael Oliveira turned in a strong showing, playing to a 6-6 tie before VSU held serve to make it 7-6 and then broke UAH's serve to win the point and make it 2-1 in favor of the guests going into singles play.
Valdosta State then proceeded to capture the match as it won the points for Nos. 1, 2, and 3 in singles to secure victory.
At the third position,
Nestor Perez put up a valiant effort he won the first set 4-6 but then fell 6-0, 6-3. Providing the team with its two other points, Kano won 6-1, 7-5 at the No. 4 spot, while Oliveira cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 victory.
In falling to 5-5 on the season, the Lady Chargers had a great shot to head to singles play with a lead as after VSU's No. 1 doubles pairing won 8-0, UAH's No. 3 duo of
Alejandra Pacheco and
Kasi McDonald won 8-4.
Jessica Groupierre and
Katie Bryant fought hard at No. 2 doubles to pull within one at 7-6 but ultimately fell 8-6 as the Lady Blazers took a 2-1 lead into singles action.
“Our girls knew that if we were going to have a chance today we had to take a lead out of doubles,” said Finn after the match. “They really gave it their best effort, and you could really tell it took a lot out of them. I am still proud of the fight our girls showed. Progress is definitely being made here.”
The squad was unable to take a point in singles action.
The men will return to action when they take on Huntingdon at 2 p.m. on Sunday in Huntsville.
