Final Stats

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU Mustangs dropped a thrilling 4-3 match to Arkansas on Sunday inside the Ann and Brad Brookshire Family Pavilion.

Senior Nate Lammons and junior Arkidjas Slobodkins won the first doubles match on court two, 6-4 against Jose Salazar and Adam Sanjurjo. On court one juniors Hunter and Yates Johnson fell to Mike Redlicki and Giammarco Micolani 6-4. Junior Markus Kerner and sophomore Ronald Slobodchikov dropped their doubles match 7-5 giving the Razorbacks an early 1-0 lead.

"It was a fantastic match that was one of the toughest hard fought battles in all my years of coaching," said Head Coach Carl Neufeld. "There were five three setters that were all contested and was an exciting match. Unforuntately we struggled a little bit during doubles and I believe that cost us the win."

Slobodchikov gave the Mustangs their first point of the match after making light work of his opponent William Albanese 6-1, 6-2. On court six Slobodkins won his first set 7-5 but dropped the next two sets, 6-1, 6-4 giving Arkansas back the lead 2-1. The Razorbacks upped their lead to 3-1 after another three set match on court one. Hunter won the first set 7-6 (7-4) but dropped the next two sets 6-2, 6-2.

Down 3-1 the Mustangs started to make a comeback beginning on court three. Lammons and Micolani split the first two sets, both by a score of 6-4. Lammons bounced back in the third set cruising to a 6-1 win, making the score 3-2 Arkansas. Kerner tied the match for the Mustangs at 3-3 after his singles victory. The Viljandi, Estonia native would split the first two sets against his adversary Santiago Munoz, both winning by a margin of 6-3. In the final set, Kerner didn't take his first lead until the score was 6-5, and closed out the match at 7-5. After another split of 6-3 in the first two sets on court two, sophomore Samm Butler made it interesting in the decisive third set but fell 6-3 giving the Razorbacks the wins.

"I was very pleased with Lammons and Slobodkins effort in doubles play," said Neufeld. They are starting to play their best to this point and it showed in the crucial doubles win. We also had great crowd of 400 people and hopefully we can get some more next time."

SMU will be back in action on Sunday, February 21 at noon when they face Cal Poly.

Tennis Match Results
Arkansas vs SMU
Feb 14, 2016 at Dallas, Texas
#64 Arkansas 4, #51 SMU 3

Singles competition
1. Mike Redlicki (AR) def. Hunter Johnson (SMU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-2
2. Jose Salazar (AR) def. Samm Butler (SMU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
3. Nate Lammons (SMU) def. Giammarco Micolani (AR) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
4. Markus Kerner (SMU) def. Santiago Munoz (AR) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
5. Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) def. William Albanese (AR) 6-1, 6-2
6. Adam Sanjurjo (AR) def. Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Mike Redlicki/Giammarco Micolani (AR) def. Yates Johnson/Hunter Johnson (SMU) 6-4
2. Nate Lammons/Arkadijs Slobodkins (SMU) def. Jose Salazar/Adam Sanjurjo (AR) 6-4
3. Santiago Munoz/Johan den Toom (AR) def. Markus Kerner/Ronald Slobodchikov (SMU) 7-5

Match Notes:
Arkansas 4-2; National ranking #64
SMU 4-3; National ranking #51
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,6,1,3,4,2)
T-2:50