ABILENE – Abilene Christian dropped a 6-1 match to Texas-Arlington in a rematch of last year's Western Athletic Conference Championship.
"It was a tough match," said ACU Head Coach Juan Nunez. "We knew who we were playing and I was pretty pleased with the way the guys showed up. We had four matches go three sets and we were up in all three doubles at some point. It could have gone either way. We didn't get it done. Like I told the team, I think there was a little bit of doubt because they are a really good team and I think the guys felt like the task ahead might be hard when you don't have a guy or two. But I've been telling them that's not an excuse. That's why we brought in the guys that we brought in."
Benjamin McDonald and
Ethan Scribner were up 5-4 in doubles when UTA clinched the doubles point.
Martin Delnido got the lone ACU singles win, taking Pedro Sasso in three sets after falling in the first, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Cesar Barranquero,
Merse Deli and McDonald fell in three sets.
ACU returns to action at Grand Canyon at noon (CT) on Sunday.
UT Arlington 6, Abilene Christian 1
Singles competition
1. Espinosa, Joan (UTA) def.
Daniel Morozov (ACU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Teramo, Dante (UTA) def.
Cesar Barranquero (ACU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
3. Caffarena, Solano (UTA) def.
Merse Deli (ACU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Barot, Meethre (UTA) def.
Dennis Dutine (ACU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Medus, Andres (UTA) def.
Benjamin McDonald (ACU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
6.
Martin Delnido (ACU) def. Sasso, Pedro (UTA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Sasso, Pedro/Caffarena, Solano (UTA) def.
Daniel Morozov/
Cesar Barranquero (ACU) 6-3
2.
Benjamin McDonald/
Ethan Scribner (ACU) vs. Espinosa, Joan/Barot, Meethre (UTA) 5-3, unfinished
3. Medus, Andres/Teramo, Dante (UTA) def.
Merse Deli/
Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) 6-4
