April 8, 2009

DALLAS (SMU)-SMU men's tennis (15-9) completed their final home matches of the season by collecting sweeps (7-0) over UT-Arlington (12-7) and Grambling at Turpin Tennis Stadium on Tuesday, April 7.

Against UTA, the Mustangs secured the doubles point with No. 32 sophomore duo Darren Walsh and Adham el-Effendi picking up a win against Hamon/Bienzobas in a 9-8 tiebreaker, while junior Chris Hooshyar and teammate Artem Baradach edged out (9-7) Srkala/Subirats on court three.

Playing at number one singles, No. 61 senior Robin Fahgen collected a win (6-2, 6-2) over Mindaugas Celedinas in which he only gave up four games to the Maverick. Mustang el-Effendi claimed a comeback win against Adam Srkala after dropping the first set, and winning the tiebreak in the third (4-6, 6-3, 7-6), and sophomore Bryan Griffin defeated Jason Lateko in a second set tiebreaker (6-4, 7-6). Freshman David Costa, Baradach, and freshman Gaston Cuadranti were also successful.

In their second win of the night, the Mustangs blanked Grambling State as Fahgen and Costa ousted (8-5) Mavericks Nicolas Rufyikiri and Ceron Rolle, while Mustangs on courts two and three collected wins, 8-2 for the doubles point.

Griffin blanked Victor Semerdjieva at the number five spot in singles competition, and el-Effendi only gave up two games to Anton Belikov in a SMU victory (6-2, 6-0). To cap off the night, Costa battled through a tough Rufyikiri forehand to win in three sets (6-0, 6-7, 10-5).

The Mustangs' season finale is against C-USA foe Rice on Saturday, April 11 at the Jake Hess Tennis Center at 1:00 p.m.