Freshman Jesse Gothelf hits the ball Oct. 22 at the UTA Tennis Center. Gothelf missed the regional championship matches due to an injury.
The UTA men’s tennis team wrapped up play in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Championships Tuesday, hosted by Texas A&M University at Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas.
Junior Yazid Lahjomri, the only returning player from last year’s team, had a strong performance throughout the tournament. He went 2-1 in the open singles and advanced to the round of 16 before losing in straight sets to Texas A&M senior Togan Tokac.
Sophomore Finbar McGarvey and junior Saul Berdullas Calviño both lost their first match and were knocked into the consolation bracket. Afterwards, McGarvey won his first match but would fall in the round of 32, while Berdullas Calviño battled into the round of 16 in the consolation bracket before being defeated.
Lahjomri and McGarvey teamed up in doubles, starting strong. The duo won their bout in the round of 64 against UT San Antonio freshmen Timeo Bretin and sophomore Enzo Vargas, but were eliminated in the round of 32 by Texas Tech University.
Texas A&M senior Ethan Silva defaulted as the singles consolation bracket winner after Texas Christian University junior Filip Apltauer withdrew from the finals match.
Baylor also saw success through duo junior Connor Van Schalkwyk and senior Zsombor Velcz. The two took home a finals win for men’s doubles against Texas Tech in a duel that went back and forth, winning in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 and 7-4.
In the men’s singles semifinals, UT Austin sophomore Sebastian Eriksson beat out Texas A&M University sophomore Alexander Frusina in two hard-fought matches, winning both 7-5 in the main pool. Southern Methodist University junior Trevor Svajda knocked out the University of Baylor junior Connor Van Schalkwyk 6-4 and 6-2 to advance.
The semifinals capped the tournament, as the finals of the championship were not played. However, the semifinalists left the Mitchell Tennis Center as qualifiers for the upcoming NCAA Singles Championships.
UTA has two tournaments remaining in the fall season. The team’s next action will be in Jacksonville, Florida, to compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference Invitational from Friday through Sunday.
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