Southern Arkansas (2-5), No. 21 Cornell (11-2) vs SMU (9-7)
Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex – Dallas, Texas
11 a.m. | 5 p.m. | Friday, Mar. 10
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DALLAS- SMU men's tennis put on a show in front of a packed house at the Styslinger/ Altec Tennis complex earning a pair of 5-2 victories over Southern Arkansas and No. 21 Cornell.

The Mustangs picked up both doubles points and eight singles matches to improve to 9-7 throughout the dual season and recorded their first ITA Top-25 win of the season.

"We had tremendous support all day and that really fueled us to a great win over a very good Cornell team," said head coach Grant Chen. "Cornell has been red hot this season, but we remained focused and fought as a cohesive unit. We have been talking about enjoying the moment and it showed tonight. PK & Liam really shined tonight in singles. We also experimented with a new doubles combination with a fresh feel. Thanks to Coach Nevolo and the SMU women's tennis team for making their presence felt on a picture-perfect Friday night lights. It has been a testing week with multiple challenges. We look forward to one more match against UCF on Sunday. It will be a special double header with our girls' team as it will be broadcast on ESPN +."

SMU saw new faces take the court this dual season in the matchup against Southern Arkansas.

SMU clinched its 11^th doubles point this season with victories on Courts 1 and 3. The new pairing of Adam Neff and Kyle Sillman got the nod for the No. 1 doubles position. The duo never trailed on its way to a 6-1 win over Tim Fischer and Marius Braun.

Another debut pairing of Julian Steinhausen and Liam Krall built a quick 4-0 lead over Mathieu Wierniezky and Matthew Tennant. The SMU duo went on to clinch the match and doubles point with a 6-1 victory.

Pranav Kumar and Antonio Muniz-Hidalgo's match would go unfinished at 3-3.

Junior, Callaway Clark finished first in singles with a 6-1, 6-2 victory on Court 6. Clark improved to 3-0 throughout the dual season and 2-0 on Court 6.

Jordi Redelijk put the match within a point of victory shortly thereafter. Redelijk overcame Wierniezky on Court 1 in a straight set victory, 6-2, 6-3.

The Mustangs earned the match on Court 5 due to retirement of Ben Schneider of Southern Arkansas. Though Schneider won the first set, SMU's Johnny Zisette was on his way to a second set comeback as he broke Schneider at 4-4 and was on serve 5-4 before going unfinished.

Alex Stafford continues undefeated this season (4-0) with a 7-5, 7-5 victory on Court 4.

Southern Arkansas went on to take the Courts 2 and 4 in third sets to close out the match.

SMU returned to the Styslinger/ Altec Tennis Complex later Friday evening for its third Top 25 matchup this season against No. 21 Cornell.

The Mustangs got off to a strong start in doubles play, with Adam Neff and Kyle Sillman breaking their opponents' serve in the first opportunity to go out 2-0. The duo got ahead 5-0 before Adit Sinha and Nathan Mao claimed the next three games tightening the lead. Adam Neff was put to the test as he served out the match resulting in a 6-3 victory. Neff and Sillman improved to 2-0 as they went undefeated today.

Cornell's Samuel Paquette and Petar Teodorovic evened things up with their 6-4 win over Liam Krall and Julian Steinhausen meaning all eyes turned to Court 2.

Pranav Kumar and Antonio Muniz-Hidalgo managed to take out Vladislav Melnic and Radu Papoe in a back and forth match up that was not shy of intensity. Three aces were given by each pairing resulting in a deciding tiebreaker at 6-6. The SMU duo cruised by in a 7-2 victory clinching the 12^th doubles point for the Mustangs.

Pranav Kumar kept the momentum going in singles play and put up a 6-1, 6-2 victory on Court 3 to push SMU's lead out to 2-0.

Liam Krall was next to secure a point, putting SMU in front, 3-0, with a 6-1, 6-1 victory on Court 2.

Muniz-Hidalgo earned the match-clincher – his first of the year. He bested Petar Teodorovic in a three-set battle, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, to clinch the Mustangs first Top 25 victory.

The Bears managed to pick up points when No. 89-ranked Radu Papoe defeated Adam Neff on Court 1 6-2, 6-7 (9-7), retired and Nathan Mao knocked off Julian Steinhausen on Court 5 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2).

Neff fell in the first set 2-6 but rallied back in the second to force a tiebreaker. Neff got the crowed to its feet with a 9-7 victory in the second set to force a deciding third set. Papoe would go on to win the match due to retirement from Neff at the start of the third.

The Mustangs added icing to the cake as Louis Cloud closed out the night with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory on Court 6 improving Cloud to an 8-3 overall record.

The Mustangs look to extend their two-match win streak as they take on No. 73 UCF in their first home conference matchup on Sunday at 2 p.m. The match will be broadcasted on ESPN +. The first 250 fans will receive a free cooling towel from UT Southwestern and the first 150 fans will receive a free meal from Dog Haus.
 
SMU 5, Southern Arkansas 2
Mar 10, 2023 at

Singles Competition 1. Jordi Redelijk (SMU) def. Mathieu Wierniezky (SAU) 6-2, 6-3

2. Tim Fischer (SAU) def. Jack Winkler (SMU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4

3. Alex Stafford (SMU) def. Lluc Pasqual (SAU) 7-5, 7-5

4. Matthew Tennant (SAU) def. Blaine Hovenier (SMU) 6-3, 5-7, 10-5

5. John Zisette (SMU) def. Ben Schneider (SAU) 3-6, 5-4, 98-0

6. Callaway Clark (SMU) def. Melvin Vix (SAU) 6-1, 6-2

 

Doubles Competition 1. Adam Neff/Kyle Sillman (SMU) def. Tim Fischer/Marius Braun (SAU) 6-1

2. Antonio Muniz Hidalg/Pranav Kumar (SMU) vs. Ben Schneider/Gabriel Breitenmoser (SAU) 3-3, unfinished

3. Julian Steinhausen/Liam Krall (SMU) def. Mathieu Wierniezky/Matthew Tennant (SAU) 6-1

 

Match Notes Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,1,5,4,3,2)

SMU 5, #21 Cornell 2 Mar 10, 2023 at Singles Competition 1. #81 Radu Papoe (CORNELL) def. Adam Neff (SMU) 6-2, 6-7 (7-9), 98-0 2. Liam Krall (SMU) def. Vladislav Melnic (CORNELL) 6-1, 6-1 3. Pranav Kumar (SMU) def. Adit Sinha (CORNELL) 6-1, 6-2 4. Antonio Muniz Hidalg (SMU) def. Petar Teodorovic (CORNELL) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 5. Nathan Mao (CORNELL) def. Julian Steinhausen (SMU) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) 6. Louis Cloud (SMU) def. Samuel Paquette (CORNELL) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3     Doubles Competition 1. Adam Neff/Kyle Sillman (SMU) def. Adit Sinha/Nathan Mao (CORNELL) 6-3 2. Antonio Muniz Hidalg/Pranav Kumar (SMU) def. Vladislav Melnic/Radu Papoe (CORNELL) 7-6 (7-2) 3. Samuel Paquette/Petar Teodorovic (CORNELL) def. Julian Steinhausen/Liam Krall (SMU) 6-4   Match Notes Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,4,1,5,6)