NAPA, California (SMU) - The SMU men's tennis team had a strong showing in its first event of the fall season at the Napa Invitational. The Mustangs tied for second with University of Pacific for most total wins at 11. Senior Nate Lammons who will obtain his Master's Degree in Engineering this spring led the Mustangs, going a perfect 3-0 in singles action to earn the singles championship of court one.
On day one of the invitational, the Mustangs nearly had a perfect outing as they took down University of San Francisco in both doubles matches and all but one singles match. "This was a very exciting weekend to start off the year, said Head Coach Carl Neufeld. Finishing second overall against some stiff competition that included two teams in the top 30." Twins Hunter and Yates Johnson were able to hold on to in their doubles match, winning 8-7 (2) against the duo of Vasco Valverde and Nils Skajaa, while Lammons and Arkadijs Slobodkins took down Thomas Takemoto and Ryan Marker 8-3.
During singles action Lammons, Slobodkins and Hunter won their singles match in straight sets. Lammons started off his soon to be perfect singles record of the weekend, dropping Skajaa 6-1, 6-3. Hunter took down his adversary Valverde in nearly the same fashion 6-1, 6-4 and Slobodkins took down Takemoto 7-5, 7-5. Yates fell just short in a close three set match versus Marker by a margin of 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4.
On day two, the Mustangs fell to Oklahoma State 4-2. After SMU lost both doubles matches, Lammons faced his biggest challenge in Lukas Finzelberg having two of the three sets go into a tiebreaker. Nate was able to hold on winning 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(5). Yates earned his first singles win of the weekend against Nathan Roper 6-1, 6-4.
On the final day, SMU defeated American Athletic Conference rival Tulsa 4-2. Both twosomes started the match winning their respected doubles match. Lammons and Hunter would continue their momentum into singles play where Nate dropped his opponent Carlos Bautista 6-3, 6-4 and Hunter winning his second singles match of the weekend versus Matthew Kirby 6-4, 6-2.
"Nate Lammons had a great weekend beating all three number one players and coming up with the championship in his event and I'm very proud of the way he performed" Neufeld said.
Up next for SMU, the Midland Intercollegiate Invitational in Midland, Texas, on Sept. 18-20.
Friday, Sept. 11
Doubles
Johnson/Johnson (SMU) vs Skajaa/Valverde (USF) 8-7(2) (SMU)
Lammons/Slobodkins (SMU) vs Takemoto/Marker (USF) 8-3 (SMU)
Singles
Lammons (SMU) vs Skajaa (USF) 6-1, 6-3 (SMU)
Slobodkins (SMU) vs Takemoto (USF) 7-5, 7-5 (SMU)
Johnson (SMU) vs Valverde (USF) 6-1, 6-4 (SMU)
Johnson (SMU) vs Marker (USF) 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 (USF)
Saturday, Sept. 12
Doubles
Finzelberg/Mendoza (OSU) vs Johnson/Johnson (SMU) 8-6 (OSU)
Meraut/Roper (OSU) vs Lammons/Slobodkins (SMU) 8-4 (OSU)
Singles
Finzelberg (OSU) vs Lammons (SMU) 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(5) (SMU)
Meraut (OSU) vs Slobodkins (SMU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 (OSU)
Mendoza (OSU) vs H. Johnson (SMU) 6-0, 6-4 (OSU)
Roper (OSU) vs Y. Johnson (SMU) 6-1, 6-4 (SMU)
Sunday, Sept. 13
Doubles
Kirby/Bechard (Tulsa) vs Johnson/Johnson (SMU) 8-7(2) (SMU)
Bautista/Santos (Tulsa) vs Lammons/Slobodkins (SMU) 8-4 (SMU)
Singles
Bautista (Tulsa) vs Lammons (SMU) 6-3, 6-4, (SMU)
Bechard (Tulsa) vs Slobodkins (SMU) 7-5, 6-3 (Tulsa)
Kirby (Tulsa) vs H. Johnson (SMU) 6-4, 6-2 (SMU)
Santos (Tulsa) vs Y. Johnson (SMU) DNP (Tulsa)
