GAME ONE BOX   GAME TWO BOX

DALLAS (SMU) – Mustang Men's Tennis split their Friday doubleheader with a 5-2 win over Oklahoma Baptist and a tight 4-3 defeat against Abilene Christian from the SMU Tennis Complex.
 
In the 11 am contest against the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist, the Mustangs were in an early hole after dropping the double point though Avery Pennywell and  Blaise Fagan cruised on court three, 6-0.
 
Freshman Jack Kite was the first finisher as he made quick work of his opponent on No. 6, 6-1, 6-0. After a close first set, Tomas Vaise blew past OBU's Mattias Le Fort in set two (6-4, 6-0). Carles Sarrio won both sets 6-2 on line one, while Michael Smith clinched the match with a 6-2, 7-5 win.
 
In his first game back after missing time with an injury, Gardiner Perotti took care of business by way of a 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory. Jan-Simon Vrbsky fell in his match in a third-set 10-point tiebreaker.
 
In the back half of the doubleheader, SMU faced Abilene Christian who came in hot riding a five-match winning streak. The Wildcats would win the critical doubles point with victories on two and three over Sarrio/Rosales and Pennywell/Fagan. Vrbsky and Vaise were even 5-5 with the brother combo of Josh and Jonathan Sheehy at the time of clinch.
 
The Mustangs would take the lead in the match thanks to victories from Smith (6-1, 6-4) on No. 5 and Vaise (6-3, 6-4) on No. 4. After freshman Eddie Ross fell on court six by the score of 6-2, 6-2 the match was all square at 2-2.
 
Roberto Rosales was locked in a tight second set with Dimitris Azoides on No. 3. Rosales fended off a match-point to force a second-set tiebreaker but was bested in the tiebreaker putting ACU up 3-2.
 
It would all end up coming down to the two top courts with Sarrio and Vrbsky facing different Sheehy brothers. Sarrio responded after losing his first set and forced a third. Josh Sheehy would be the victor though after the nail-bitter of a match, giving ACU the win. Vrbsky would solider on and win his court, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
 
SMU is 8-6 on the season after the Friday's action while Abilene Christian improved to 11-3 for 2019.
 
The Mustangs return to action next weekend as they journey to New York City for their Mustangs In Manhattan Trip. SMU will face Columbia and Wagner on Mar. 2.