Men's Tennis | 4/14/2016 5:38:00 PM
Box ScoreAUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's Men's Tennis gave the 12
th-ranked Cameron Aggies all they could handle on Thursday at the Austin Tennis Academy, but fell narrowly, 5-4.
Despite the loss, the Hilltoppers' 20
th-ranked doubles team of
RICARDO PINEDA and
CHARLIE SHIN extended their winning streak to seven-straight matches. Pineda also pushed his run in singles to six-consecutive wins. He has not lost a match in singles or doubles since March 11. The duo accounted for three out of St. Edward's four points on the day.
The Hilltoppers are 9-11 overall and 5-1 in the South Central Region. Cameron improves to 14-4.
"We knew going in it would be a war, but I feel like this was the most complete match we have played this season," said head coach Estevam Strecker. "It's one point. It could change the whole outcome of the match. I am really pleased with that, but we still have to be tougher, and not get caught on particular things. I'm pleased, but it hurts. It's frustrating to lose another match 5-4 when you have dozens of chances, but it's the 12
th-ranked team in the country. If you lose 5-4, you can't really go home that sad. We're right where we need to be. I feel like we're peaking at the right time and that is very encouraging."
The contest was a battle indeed, as Cameron picked up the first two points in doubles with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. However, Pineda and Shin showed why they're nationally ranked. After falling behind early, the duo rallied back with a series of breaks to win 9-7 and make it 2-1.
Momentum swung back to the visitors in singles with an Aggie win at No. 3, putting the Hilltoppers down by two. Shin responded at No. 2 with a convincing straight-set win, 6-1, 6-4.
MATEUS DELLAVACHIA DE COL dropped his first set at No. 5, but was looking to outlast his cramping opponent. With set two in a tiebreaker, de Col fell just shy of a critical win by a score of 7-5.
LOGAN BUIGNET also suffered from cramping in his No. 4 match, and eventually fell in two sets, despite battling to a tiebreaker in set one. Even with the match clinched for Cameron, St. Edward's battled to claim the final two points with Pineda's 7-6 (5), 6-4 win at No. 1, and
JARED FELLOWS 6-3, 7-5 (5) triumph at No. 6, making the final tally.
Coach Strecker and the Hilltoppers continue their run against nationally-ranked opponents on Friday versus No. 11 Midwestern State. The match will be played at the Strohmeyer Varsity Tennis Courts immediately following the women's contest against MWST. Live stats of the contest will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.
