The UTSA men’s (5-3, 0-0 C-USA) and women’s (1-7, 0-1 C-USA) tennis teams were both in action this past weekend. The men’s team was in Corpus Christi to compete in the H-E-B Tournament of Champions while the women were in Natchitoches, La. to compete in two matches.

Squaring off in a bracket against seven other teams, the men’s side enjoyed a great deal of success. Starting the first round against the New Mexico State Aggies (3-8), the ‘Runners were on their game and breezed to an easy 5-0 victory. Moving onto the next round, the ‘Runners squared off against the Troy Trojans (7-5) and were in an absolute battle. The teams went back and forth and the ‘Runners held on to squeak out a 4-3 match victory over the Trojans and move into the championship. 

Waiting for them in the championship was a familiar foe in the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns (10-1). The two teams squared off earlier this season and the ‘Runners handed the Ragin Cajuns their only loss of the season so far with a 6-1 win. This time, UTSA got things off to an excellent start by jumping out to an early lead in doubles. The team of Sebastian Rodriguez and Tiago Torres defeated Oriol Fillat Gimenez and Vasil Dimitrov 6-4, followed by UTSA’s Maxim Groysman and Garrett Skelly dispatching Kacper Dworak and Calin Postea 6-2 to give UTSA the doubles point. In singles play, though, the Ragin Cajuns came roaring back. Joao Ceolin defeated Karlo Kajin 6-4, 7-5 to give UTSA a 2-0 lead, but slowly Louisiana-Lafayette began to reel the ‘Runners back in. Alejandro Sanchez Gonzalez dispatched UTSA’s Javier Gonzalez 2-6, 4-6, and then Gimenez defeated Rodriguez 3-6, 6-2, 2-6 to tie the match at 2-2. Torres cruised past Dworak 6-2, 6-2 to put the ‘Runners on match point, but they could not seal the deal. UTSA’s Danijal Muminovic fell to Postea 4-6, 3-6, and Groysman lost to Dimitrov to 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (2-7) to give the Ragin Cajuns the match and the championship by a final score of 3-4.
The women’s team started off their two-game road trip this week with a matchup against the Northwestern State Lady Demons (5-3). Starting out in doubles play, the ‘Runners could only field two doubles teams which hamstrung them immensely. After splitting the first two games in doubles, the ‘Runners were forced to forfeit the third match due to an inability to field a pair, which led them to lose the doubles point and go down 0-1 early. Moving into singles play, Jasmin Starr secured the lone singles point for UTSA on the day while the rest of her teammates fell to the Lady Demons in singles play to end the match with a final score of 1-6.

The following day, the ‘Runners faced off against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (5-0, 1-0 C-USA) in their first conference matchup of the season. Once again the ‘Runners’ lack of a third doubles team came back to bite them as they had to forfeit another doubles matchup to hand Southern Miss. the doubles point. In singles play, the ‘Runners were summarily dominated. starting with Starr falling to Sarah Medik 1-6, 0-6. Afterward, Sophie Omoworare lost to Clara Tardivel 0-6, 3-6 and coupled with a forfeited singles match, gave Southern Mississippi the quick match win 0-4. 

The men’s team’s next match will be Feb. 26, at home when they take on the UT Arlington Mavericks (7-3). The women’s team will return to action on Feb. 22, back home in San Antonio to take on the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (10-2).