WICHITA FALLS, Texas (March 4, 2023) – It was a tough weekend of non-conference neutral site dual play for the Lubbock Christian University men's tennis program, as they dropped consecutive matches for the first time this season, falling 4-3 to Southeastern Oklahoma State and 4-2 to Southwest Baptist (Mo.).
vs. SOSU
Friday, LCU opened the weekend facing SOSU. The Savage Storm claimed a 1-0 lead, winning a pair of doubles matches. SOSU appeared to have a runaway, extending the lead to 3-0 with wins in the No.5 and No.3 singles matches, but LCU weathered the storm with
Herman Aguirre winning No.4 singles and
Martins Abamu claiming the No. 2 singles match to trail 3-2. Aguirre defeated Marin Jurkovic in his match (No.10 ranked in Central Region) by winning the decisive third set 6-1. Aguirre improved to 2-0 against regionally ranked competition.
LCU received a victory from
Nikita Deev (No.6 singles match), but the dual had been decided, as Stipan Madzar (ranked No.15 in the Central Region) edged
Kelly Giese in a three-set No.1 singles match. Madzar rallied back from a 6-1 opening set loss with a 7-4 tiebreaker in the second set (7-6) and won the final set 6-2.
vs. SBU
Saturday, LCU returned to the court to face the Bearcats. The doubles point of the dual came down to tiebreakers. The No.3 doubles team of
Alex Donnelly and
Nikita Deev won 6-4 to put pressure on the No.2 singles match, as LCU dropped the No.1 doubles match. The tandem of Giese /
Braden Tipton were tied 6-6, but dropped the tiebreaker 7-3 to give the point to SBU heading into singles play.
Aguirre won his No.3 singles match and Deev claimed a win in No.5 singles to attempt to keep pace with SBU, but the Bearkats won the No.1, No.4 and clinching No.2 singles match to claim the 4-2 win.
Deev improved to 4-0 on the season (all in duals) and Saturday he claimed his first duals victory (1-1). Aguirre's pair of wins on the weekend improve his record to 8-7 overall and 5-3 in duals. Aguirre and Deev have won their last four singles matches.
In Summary
Both SOSU and SBU are in the Central Region. LCU moved to 5-3 on the season. They remain on the road and begin a trek through the Sunflower State Friday opening in Wichita, Kan. Against Newman.
