Feb. 16, 2013

TUCSON -

The Arizona Wildcat men's tennis team fell for the second time this season with a 4-3 loss to the New Mexico Lobos. Both teams traveled to Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson for the match.

The Cats took the early lead, claiming the doubles point with wins on courts two and three.

Finishing first was the team of Giacomo Miccini and Mario Urquidi on court two. The junior duo fell behind early, dropping the first game against Riaan Du Toit and James Hignett, but came back to win the next three and claim the lead. Du Toit and Hignett clinched the next three to bring the match to 4-3 and the Cats fought back to tie it at four. Du Toit and Hignett claimed one last win to bring the match to 5-4 before Miccini and Urquidi clinched four straight to win the match, 8-5.

On court one, Fredrik Ask and Naoki Takeda were next to finish in their match against Conor Berg and Andrew Van Der Vyver. The Wildcat duo came out strong, claiming the first two games before allowing a win to Berg and Van Der Vyver. The teams traded wins to tie the match at three, four and five games all before Berg and Van Der Vyver claimed three straight to clinch the match, 8-5.

With one win for both the Wildcats and the Lobos the doubles point came down to the team of Kieren Thompson and Sumeet Shinde against Jadon Phillips and Simon Hegelund. Thompson and Shinde fell behind as Phillips and Hegelund claimed the first game but fought back to earn two straight and take the lead 2-1. Phillips and Hegelund claimed the next game to tie it at two. The teams fought a battle of ties at three, four and five games all before the Cats broke away to take the 7-5 lead. The Lobo team secured one more win before Thompson and Shinde clinched the match, 8-6. With the win the doubles point went to the Wildcats and singles play began.

On court two, Miccini was first to finish in his match against Berg. Miccini was unable to secure a win in the first set and fell, 6-0. In the second set, Miccini and Berg traded wins to bring the set to 3-2 in Berg's favor before Berg claimed three straight to clinch the set and the match, 6-2.

Andre Vidaller was next to finish in his match with Phillips. The two tied it up at one before Phillips clinched five straight to claim the first set, 6-1. In the second set, Vidaller secured only two wins and was edged, 6-2.

On court six, Shinde was third to finish as he played Hegelund. Shinde to the early 3-1 lead before Hegelund claimed a win. Shinde answered with the next two, bringing the set to 4-1. The two traided wins and Shinde remained in the lead 5-2 before Hegelund clinched two straight to come within one game of Shinde. Shinde and Hegelund traded wins as Shinde remained one game ahead, 6-5, before claiming the set, 7-5. In the second set, Shinde took the early lead but Hegelund fought back and the two traided wins one last time to tie the set at two games each. The win would mark the last for Hegelund as Shinde claimed the set, 6-2. The win marks the sixth this season for Shinde as he holds a 6-1 singles record in 2013.

Finishing fourth was Takeda on court five. The Arizona freshman fought a close battle with Du Toit as the court entered a third set. The two traded wins to tie the first set at two before Du Toit pulled ahead, 3-2. Takeda answered with the next win and the court tied at three and once again at four games each. Du Toit earned the next win but it would be his last as Takeda claimed two straight to clinch the set, 7-5. In the second set, Takeda fell behind 1-0 but answered with a win to tie it at one. Du Toint claimed the next game but Takeda fought back to tie it once more at two. Du Toit then clinched three straight to pull ahead, 5-2, but Takeda battled back to come within one game of Du Toit. The two battled but Du Toit came out on top to clinch the set, 6-4, and the court entered a third set. For the first time in the match, Takeda clinched the first game to take the 1-0 lead and he remained ahead to bring the set to 2-1. Du Toit battled back to claim the next four straight before Takeda Clinched another win. With the set at 5-3 in Du Toit's favor, he topped Takeda in one last game to clinch the set and the match, 6-3. The loss marked the third for the Wildcats and the Lobos claimed the overall lead 3-2.

On court four, Thompson was next to finish in his match against Mitch McDaniels. The Arizona junior came out to a big lead in the first set, 4-0, before McDaniels claimed a win. Thompson allowed one more game to McDaniels before clinching the set, 6-2. In the second set, Thompson was only able to secure one win as McDaniels won, 6-1. The court entered a third set where Thompson came out to the early 2-1 lead. The two traded wins but Thompson remained one step ahead at 4-3. Thompson claimed the next two victories to win the set and the match, 6-3. With the win Thompson remains undefeated 2013 singles play as well as tying the overall match at three.

The match came down to court one where Ask took on Samir Iftikhar. The Oslo, Norway native earned a big 4-0 lead before Iftikar clinched six straight to win the set, 6-4. In the second set, Ask fell behind early 2-0 before securing a win. The two traided wins to bring the set to 3-2 in favor of Iftikhar before Ask claimed three straight to take the 5-3 lead. Iftikhar claimed the next two wins to tie the set at five but Ask battled back to win the set, 7-5. The court entered a third set where Ask held the advantage, forcing Iftikhar to fight back to tie it at one and two games each. Iftikar clinched the next two games to take the 4-2 lead but Ask came back with the next win. Iftikar won the next game before Ask clinched another win. The win would mark the last for Ask as he fell, 6-4. The loss marks the first in singles action for Ask in the 2013 season.

With the loss the Cats fall to 5-2 while the Lobos improve to 5-5. Arizona will be back in action as they head to Reffkin for one more event.

The Wildcats are set to host the UC Riverside Highlanders (1-6, 0-0 Big West) at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Complete Results
New Mexico, 4 def. Arizona, 3
Reffkin Tennis Center
Feb. 16, 2013 Doubles:
1. Berg/Van Der Vyver (UNM) def. Ask/Takeda (UA), 8-5
2. Miccini/Urquidi (UA) def. Du Toit/Hignett (UNM), 8-5
3. Thompson/Shinde (UA) def. Phillips/Hegelund (UNM), 6-8
Order of finish: 3,1,2*
*Clinch doubles point

Singles:
1. Samir Iftikar (UNM) def. Giacomo Miccini (UA), 6-0, 6-2
3. Jadon Phillips (UNM) def. Naoki Takeda (UA), 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
6. Sumeet Shinde (UA) def. Simon Hegelund (UNM), 7-5, 6-2
Order of finish:2,3,6,5,4,1*
*Clinch match