Aggies Nip Kangaroos 4-3 in WAC Tennis Opener

Friday, March 27

Edinburg, Texas

12:00 PM

Kansas City

New Mexico State

Aggies Nip Kangaroos 4-3 in WAC Tennis Opener

3/27/2015 5:28:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: UMKC Athletics

(Edinburg, Texas) - The UMKC men's tennis team started off strong, but New Mexico State came storming back in the WAC opener for both teams, as the Aggies took a tight 4-3 victory.

UMKC (8-9, 0-1 WAC) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after taking all three doubles matches over the Aggies (5-11, 1-0 WAC), inlcuding 8-2 and 8-3 wins at the top two positions.

NMSU used its depth to take out the 'Roos in singles play though, winning matches in straight sets at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Aggies evened the score with a win at the No. 6 spot, before Airam Castellano put the 'Roos back in front 2-1 with a win at the No. 1 position. NM State would win the next three matches to close it out though, while Andrey Smirnov battled to get a win a the second position and cut the final margin to 4-3.

UMKC was originally scheduled to play Seattle on Saturday, but travel issues forced them to postpone the match. Instead, the 'Roos will face hosts Texas-Pan American on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

New Mexico State 4, UMKC 3
Mar 27, 2015 at Edinburg, TX (Orville Cox Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Airam Castellano (UMKC) def. Strahinja Trecakov (NMSU) 6-1, 6-4

2. Andrey Smirnov (UMKC) def. Paul Denele (NMSU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3

3. Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) def. Vinh Pham (UMKC) 6-2, 6-4

4. Patrick Pfister (NMSU) def. Uldis Gaismins (UMKC) 6-1, 6-4

5. Liam Goldberg (NMSU) def. Conner Edwards (UMKC) 6-3, 6-2

6. Germain Degardin (NMSU) def. Mike Psarros (UMKC) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Mike Psarros/Airam Castellano (UMKC) def. Paul Denele/Thomas Douglas (NMSU) 8-2

2. Andrey Smirnov/Uldis Gaismins (UMKC) def. Germain Degardin/Charles Baron (NMSU) 8-3

3. Conner Edwards/Amaury Navette (UMKC) def. Patrick Pfister/Christofer Goncalves (NMSU) 8-6