MTEN 'empties tank' before Southland Conference opener

Friday, March 5

Edinburg, Texas

11 a.m.

Abilene Christian

UT Rio Grande Valley

Photo by: Glenn Losoya

MTEN 'empties tank' before Southland Conference opener

3/8/2021 12:08:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

ABILENE -- Abilene Christian men's tennis is home this weekend for the start of a two-match Southland Conference series vs. New Orleans and Nicholls. Thursday's match will start at 1 p.m., and Sunday's will begin at the conclusion of the women's dual vs. the Colonels.

All matches will be played on the outdoor courts of the Eager Tennis Center.

The Wildcats (5-7) come into this week on the heels of a grueling three-match roadtrip in which they drove on consecutive days to Edinburg (seven hours), Houston (six hours) and San Antonio (three hours) before returning to Abilene Sunday night (four hours).

ACU won its first match 4-3 vs. its future WAC rivals from UTRGV, 4-3, but could not replicate its success at Rice (0-4) or UTSA (0-7).

The climate also was a little different further south as the Wildcats were greeted by highs in the 80s and significant humidity.

"I exhausted the team but that was always intended to be part of the plan," said Director of Tennis Juan Nunez. "We were off for close to three weeks last month, came back to play Hardin-Simmons and McMurry, and then took off on this trip which left our tanks empty. But I wanted our team to be put into tough situations heading into Southland competition, and they were good through it all. They never complained, made excuses, or showed any amount of frustration.

"Now they have off all day Monday, and by the time they return to practice Tuesday afternoon, they'll be flying on the courts. We'll be where we need to be come Thursday."

Against UTRGV, the Wildcats claimed the doubles point in dramatic fashion as the No. 1 duo of Savan Chhabra and Riley Tran battled back to beat Luka Jankovic and Zane Kohrs, 7-6.

Nunez said his No. 1's were down a break most of the match before rallying to win the point that ultimately decided the dual as the Wildcats won three of the first four singles contests. Jose Maria Rastrojo, Mihaly Deli and Chhabra all won in straight sets to give ACU its second straight win in as many years vs. the Vaqueros.

"I thought we played incredible at UTRGV and handled their loudness well," said Nunez, "...but against Rice and UTSA it just took us a little too long to get going."

Despite not winning a team point against Rice, it's worth noting Chhabra split the first two sets vs. the Owls' No. 1 Sumit Sarkar and Oswaldo Cano was about to be up two sets at No. 4 when the match was decided. Jose Maria Rastrojo at No. 6 also was ahead in his third set.

Abilene Christian 4, UT Rio Grande Valley 3
Mar 05, 2021 at Edinburg, TX (Orville Cox Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Savan Chhabra (ACU) def. de Felipe Garcia, S. (UTRGV) 7-5, 6-4
2. Izurieta, Carlo (UTRGV) def. Riley Tran (ACU) 4-6, 7-6, 10-8
3. Jankovic, Luka (UTRGV) def. Oswaldo Cano (ACU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Mihaly Deli (ACU) def. Williams, Te Kani (UTRGV) 6-3, 6-4
5. Kohrs, Zane (UTRGV) def. Joaquin Delgado (ACU) 2-6, 6-4, 10-5
6. Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) def. Schmit, Mateo (UTRGV) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Savan Chhabra/Riley Tran (ACU) def. Jankovic, Luka/Kohrs, Zane (UTRGV) 7-6
2. Izurieta, Carlo/de Felipe Garcia, S. (UTRGV) def. Oswaldo Cano/Joaquin Delgado (ACU) 6-4
3. Mihaly Deli/Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) def. Williams, Te Kani/Schmit, Mateo (UTRGV) 6-3

Match Notes
Abilene Christian 5-5
UT Rio Grande Valley 3-9
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,3,1,4,5,2)
Official: David Cross T-3:07 A-28

Rice 4, Abilene Christian 0
3/6/2021 at Houston, TX (George R. Brown Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Sumit Sarkar (RICE) vs. Savan Chhabra (ACU) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0, unfinished
2. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz (RICE) def. Riley Tran (ACU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Wes Barnett (RICE) def. Mihaly Deli (ACU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Adam Oscislawski (RICE) vs. Oswaldo Cano (ACU) 6-7 (4-7), 1-4, unfinished
5. Trinity Grear (RICE) def. Joaquin Delgado (ACU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Conrad Russell (RICE) vs. Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) 3-6, 6-2, 3-2, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Conrad Russell/Sumit Sarkar (RICE) vs. Savan Chhabra/Riley Tran (ACU) 5-4, unfinished
2. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz/Campbell Salmon (RICE) def. Oswaldo Cano/Joaquin Delgado (ACU) 6-3
3. Wes Barnett/Trinity Grear (RICE) def. Mihaly Deli/Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) 6-2

Match Notes
Abilene Christian 5-6
Rice 5-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,5,3)
T-2:10 A-85

UTSA 7, Abilene Christian 0
3/7/2021 at San Antonio, Texas (UTSA Tennis Center)

Singles competition
1. Juri Reckow (UTSA) def. Savan Chhabra (ACU) 7-5, 4-2, retired
2. Javier Gonzalez (UTSA) def. Mihaly Deli (ACU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Joao Ceolin (UTSA) def. Oswaldo Cano (ACU) 7-6, 5-4
4. Slava Gulin (UTSA) def. Joaquin Delgado (ACU) 6-0, 6-4
5. Javier Rodriguez (UTSA) def. Jose Maria Rastrooj (ACU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Garrett Skelly (UTSA) def. Andrew Otzenberger (ACU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Sebastian Rodriguez/Joao Ceolin (UTSA) def. Savan Chhabra/Riley Tran (ACU) 5-4
2. Juri Reckow/Slava Gulin (UTSA) def. Oswaldo Cano/Joaquin Delgado (ACU) 6-4
3. Javier Gonzalez/Garrett Skelly (UTSA) def. Jose Maria Rastrojo/Mihaly Deli (ACU) 6-4

Match Notes
Abilene Christian 5-7
UTSA 6-3