Fall Readies Wildcats for WAC Title Defense

ABILENE - The defending WAC men's tennis champions from Abilene Christian recently completed a challenging fall slate which has head coach Juan Nunez feeling confident in the approach of his nine-man team.

"Everybody is stepping up to the challenge of defending our team title," said the third-year head coach and former Wildcat letter winner. "In the time that I've been here, the overall intensity of our practices has been the best it's ever been. The players have developed a high level camaraderie on and off the courts and we're competing as 'one family.'

ACU this autumn claimed 35 singles victories and 14 doubles triumphs through four tournaments. Dario Kmet, a junior from Sydney, Australia, cemented his spot as a top-line player by winning several matches at Corpus Christi and San Antonio followed by impressive runs at the ITA All-America and Texas Regional Championships.

Kmet dispatched opposition from Liberty and UC Irvine in reaching the third round at All-Americas, and several days later he notched his best win of the past year after upsetting Texas' Cleeve Harper in three sets at Regionals, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Kmet is joined at the top by a solid core of veteran players including senior Savan Chhabra and sophomores Daniel Morozov and Cesar Barranquero. 

Chhabra finished the fall in strong fashion with a pair of regional wins over opponents from Corpus Christi and TCU, while Morozov and Barranquero each came away with a first-round win at All-Americas.

Morozov edged Arkansas' Jake Sweeney, 7-6 (7), 6-7 (7), 6-4, and Barranquero def.rallied to beat Rithik Sardana of George Mason, 1-6, 6-4, 6-0.

The Wildcats additionally received consistent play from returners Jose Rastrojo (9 wins), Mihaly Deli (6 wins) and Ben McDonald (7 wins), while the freshman duo of Noah Wheen and Ethan Scribner continued to iron out their inexperience by appearing in more than 30 combined singles and doubles matches.

"Both our freshmen are very talented with tremendous upside, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they can turn into," said Nunez. "I find them to be extremely coachable because they're good listeners and they apply those instructions into competition, resulting in closed sets. They're putting in the work."

The Wildcats this fall also received a boost from their strength and conditioning coach Andre Morrison, who earned high praise from Nunez for keeping the team extra motivated.

"Andre has the team focused in all areas of life," he said. "The way he talks and communicates with the team has produced a tremendous amount of connections. They realize everything they do - how they eat, hydrate, stretch, rest, study - is all part of the game. He has helped us stay sharp."

For doubles, the Wildcat utilized eight combinations this fall, and Nunez expects to run out three to four different lineups this spring, indicating, "it's a good problem to have." 

Kmet and Morozov were paired at all three tournaments and won two of three contests at UTSA, while the remaining Wildcats switched partners at least once. Rastrojo, who had three partners this fall, won twice with McDonald at Corpus Christi and again with Barranquero in San Antonio. He finished the year competing alongside Deli at regionals, where they scored an 8-6 win over Incarnate Word.

ACU had three of its four doubles teams post 2-1 records at the Roadrunner Invitational in combining for a 7-5 mark.

Wildcat tennis will resume its competitive season in January.

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Islander Open (Sept. 9-11)
Dario Kmet def. Avery Zavala (Corpus Christi), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
Tomi Reche (Incarnate Word) def. Dario Kmet, 6-1, 7-5
Dario Kmet def. Lucas Schurdevin (Corpus Christi), 7-6 (5), 6-2

Diego Garcia Dalisay (Tyler JC) def. Daniel Linkuns-Morozov, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
Daniel Linkuns-Morozov def. Haruki Omori-Cowie (Lamar), 6-0, 6-2
Daniel Linkuns-Morozov def. Max Amling (Lamar), 6-2, 6-1

Nathan Schwartz (Corpus Christi) def. Cesar Barranquero, 6-4, 6-2
Cesar Barranquero def. Pietro Perego (Incarnate Word), ret.
Cesar Barranquero def. Tim Riedel (Tyler JAC), 6-1, 6-2

Daniel Persson (Tyler JC) def. Savan Chhabra, 6-4, ret.

Gustav Hasslegren (Lamar) def. Mihaly Deli, 7-5, 6-2
Antoine Thiriat (Incarnate Word) def. Mihaly Deli, 6-1, 6-3

Jose Rastrojo def. Naithaolin Calvin Golmei (Tyler JC), 6-3, 6-1
Marwin Kralemann (Incarnate Word) def. Jose Rastrojo, 6-0, 6-2
Jose Rastrojo def. Joan Crespo (Lamar), ret.

Joan Crespo (Lamar) def. Benjamin McDonald, 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4)
Faiz Nasyam (Tyler JC) def. Benjamin McDonald, 7-5, 6-1
Naithaolin Calvin Golmei (Tyler JC) def. Benjamin McDonald, ret.

Ethan Scribner def. Jonah Smith (Incarnate Word), 6-1, 6-1
Arnau Lopez (Incarnate Word) def. Ethan Scribner, 7-6 (4), 6-3
Noah Deluna (Incarnate Word) def. Ethan Scribner, 6-3, 6-4

Ulysse Bertrand (Corpus Christi) def. Noah Wheen, 6-3, 6-3
Mikaeel Woodman (Tyler JC) def. Noah Wheen, 6-3, 7-5
Noah Wheen def. Jonah Smith (Lamar), 6-2, 6-0

Dario Kmet / Daniel Linkuns-Morozov def. Joan Crespo / Maximilian Milic (Lamar), Ret.
Tim Riedel / Diego Garcia Dalisay (Tyler JC) def. Dario Kmet / Daniel Linkuns-Morozov, 8-5

Cesar Barranquero / Savan Chhabra def. Pascal Lorieul / Avery Zavala (Corpus Christi), 8-4
Tim Riedel / Diego Garcia Dalisay (Tyler JC) def. Cesar Barranquero / Savan Chhabra, ret.

Jose Rastrojo / Benjamin McDonald def. Tomi Reche / Noah Deluna (Incarnate Word), 8-6
Jose Rastrojo / Benjamin McDonald def. Emilio Vila / Faiz Nasyam (Tyler JC), 8-7 (5)
Antoine Thiriat / Marwin Kralemann (Incarnate Word) def. Jose Rastrojo / Benjamin McDonald, 8-5

Tomas Quesada Perez / Ulysse Bertrand (Corpus Christi) def. Noah Wheen / Ethan Scribner, 8-6
Daniel Persson / Naithaolin Calvin Golmei (Tyler JC) def. Noah Wheen / Ethan Scribner, 8-6
Martin Garcia / Haruki Omari-Cowie (Lamar) def. Noah Wheen / Ethan Scribner, 8-3
 

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Jauer Roadrunner Invitational (Sept. 23-25)
Trinity Grear (Rice) def. Dario Kmet, 6-2, 6-0
Dario Kmet def. Lucas Schurdevin (Corpus Christi), 6-3, 6-2
Antonio Prat Gil (Miami) def. Dario Kmet, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3

Santiago Giamichelle (UTA) def. Daniel Linkuns-Morozov, 6-2, 7-6 (5)
Emir Sendogan (Rice) def. Daniel Linkuns-Morozov, 7-5, 6-0
Daniel Linkuns-Morozov def. Jackson Winkler (SMU), w/o

Tomas Pinho (UTA) def. Cesar Barranquero, 6-2, 7-5
Cesar Barranquero def. Joao Sasso (Incarnate Word), 6-1, 6-2
Cesar Barranquero def. Anton Shepp (UTA), 6-4, 6-2

Justin Braverman (Baylor) def. Mihaly Deli, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5
Mihaly Deli def. Miguel Angel Alonso (UTSA), 6-1, ret.
Karlo Krolo (UTRGV) def. Mihaly Deli, 7-6 (4), 7-5

Ezequiel Monferrer (Oral Roberts) def. Jose Rastrojo, 6-4, 6-2 
Ricardo Alban (UT Arlington) def. Jose Rastrojo, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
Jose Rastrojo def. Eli Brewer (Oral Roberts), 7-6 (2), 6-1

Andoni Garmendia (Incarnate Word) def. Benjamin McDonald, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5)
Benjamin McDonald def. Eli Brewer (Oral Roberts), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3)
Benjamin McDonald def. Ricardo Alban (UTA), 4-6, 1-1, ret.

Ethan Scribner def. Aaron Brewer (Oral Roberts), 6-3, 6-3
Andrew Keene (UTSA) def. Ethan Scribner, 7-5, 6-4
Ethan Scribner def. Noah Wheen (ACU), 7-5, 7-6 (4)

Noah Deluna (Incarnate Word) def. Noah Wheen, 6-2, 6-1
Noah Wheen def. Sam Whitehead (UTRGV),, 6-1, 4-6, 6-0

Dario Kmet / Daniel Linkuns-Morozov def. Matthieu Peres / Lucas Schurdevin (Corpus Christi), 6-3
Dario Kmet / Daniel Linkuns-Morozov def. Trinity Grear / Kabeer Kapasi (Rice), 6-1
Alan Magadan / Sebastian Rodriguez def. Dario Kmet / Daniel Linkuns-Morozov (UTSA), 6-2 

Cesar Barranquero / Jose Rastrojo def. Tomas Pinho / Tiago Torres (UTSA), 6-1
Cesar Barranquero / Jose Rastrojo def. Louis Cloud / Jackson Winkler (SMU), 6-1
Christopher Frantzen / Justin Braverman (Baylor) def. Cesar Barranquero / Jose Rastrojo, 6-2

Marco Kermet / Noah Deluna (Incarnate Word) def. Mihaly Deli / Noah Wheen, 6-2
Mihaly Deli / Noah Wheen def. Aaron Brewer / Kevin Leuenberger (ORU), 6-3
Mihaly Deli / Noah Wheen def. Alexander Stafford / Eli Susser (SMU), 7-6 (4)

Tomi Reche / Arnau Miralles Lopez (Incarnate Word) def. Benjamin McDonald / Ethan Scribner, 6-2
Benjamin McDonald / Ethan Scribner def. Michael Canales / Agustin Salazar (UTRGV), 7-5
Emilien Brunel / Sam Whitehead (UTRGV) def. Benjamin McDonald / Ethan Scribner, 6-3
 

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ITA Men's All-American Championships (Oct. 1-2)
Dario Kmet def. Rafael Da Silva (Liberty), 6-2, 6-4
Dario Kmet def. Ali Amiri (UC Irvine), 6-4, 6-3
Nathan Cox def. Dario Kmet (Vanderbilt), 5-7, 6-3, 6-2

Matthew Demarco (Dayton) def. Daniel Linkuns-Morozov, 6-2, 6-4
Daniel Linkuns-Morozov def. Jake Sweeney (Arkansas), 7-6 (7), 6-7 (7), 6-4

Bryan Aguiar Kuntz (Omaha) def. Cesar Barranquero, 6-1, 6-3
Cesar Barranquero def. Rithik Sardana (George Mason), 1-6, 6-4, 6-0 
 

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ITA Texas Regional Championships
Tyler Stewart (Texas Tech) def. Mihaly Deli (ACU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
Mihaly Deli (ACU) def. Callaway Clark (SMU), walkover
Mihaly Deli (ACU) def. Tomas Quesada Perez (Corpus Christi), def.
Sebastian Abboud (Texas Tech) def. Mihaly Deli, 8-7 (4)

Benjamin McDonald (ACU) def. Maximillian Milic (Lamar) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Matthieu Peres (TAMUCC) def. Benjamin McDonald (ACU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

Savan Chhabra (ACU) def. Lucas Schurdevin (TAMUCC) 6-3, 6-4
Savan Chhabra (ACU) def. Luke Swan (TCU) 6-1, 6-2
Zsombor Velcz (Baylor) def. Savan Chhabra (ACU) - 6-1, 7-5
Pedro Vives Marcos (TCU) def. Savan Chhabra (ACU) 6-2, 6-2

Alex Stafford (SMU) def. Ethan Scribner (ACU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-3
Nathan Schwartz (TAMUCC) def. Ethan Scribner (ACU) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)

Justin Braverman (Baylor) def. Cesar Barranquero (ACU) 6-4, 6-1
Cesar Barranquero (ACU) def. Eduardo Morais (Rice) 6-3, 6-2

Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) def. Daichi Akiyoshi (UTA), 6-4, ret.
Emilien Burnel (UTRGV) def. Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
A. Martin-Thiriat (Incarnate Word) def. Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU), 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5)

Rafal Bednarczuk (Incarnate Word) def. Noah Wheen (ACU) 7-5, 6-2
Sam Whitehead (UTRGV) def. Noah Wheen (ACU) 6-2, 6-3

Dario Kmet (ACU) def. John Zisette (SMU) 6-2, 6-4
Dario Kmet (ACU) def. Cleeve Harper (Texas) - 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
Matthis Ross (Texas A&M) def. Dario Kmet (ACU) 6-3, 7-5

Juampi Mazzuchi (Baylor) def. Daniel Linkuns-Morozovs (ACU) - 6-3, 6-2
Pranav Kumar (SMU) def. Daniel Linkuns-Morozovs (ACU) 6-0, 6-3
 
Benjamin McDonald / Ethan Scribner (ACU) def. Kabeer Kapasi / Santiago Navarro (Rice), 8-4
Tadeas Paroulek / Zsombor Velcz (Baylor) def. Benjamin McDonald / Ethan Scribner (ACU), 8-3

Cesar Barranquero / Savan Chhabra (ACU) def. Blaine Hovenier / Kyle Sillman (SMU) - 8-7 (4)
Sander Jong / Lui Maxted (TCU) def. Cesar Barranquero / Savan Chhabra (ACU), 8-4

Tomas Perez / Avery Zavala (Corpus Christi) def. Daniel Linkuns-Morozovs / Dario Kmet (ACU) - 8-7 (6)
Andrew Keene / Garrett Skelly (UTSA) def. Dario Kmet / Daniel Linkuns-Morozov, default

Mihaly Deli / Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) def. Joao Sasso / Andoni Garmendia (Incarnate Word), 8-6
Finn Bass / Juampi Mazzuchi (Baylor) def. Mihaly Deli / Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU), 8-4