No. 6 Men's Tennis Edged by No. 4 Texas in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 6 Baylor men’s tennis (18-3, 1-1 Big 12) couldn’t hold on to an early lead in its 4-3 loss to No. 4 Texas (19-2, 2-0 Big 12) Sunday afternoon at the Texas Tennis Center in Austin.
Despite the 2-0 lead, the Longhorns claimed four straight points to end Baylor’s season-best nine-match winning streak.
In doubles action, top-ranked Jimmy Bendeck and Sven Lah earned their 10th ranked win of the season with a quick 6-2 victory over No. 7 Christian Sigsgaard and Harrison Scott at the No. 1 spot. Then, Will Little and Matias Soto clinched the opening point with a 6-2 victory over Colin Markes and Leonardo Telles on court two.
Adrian Boitan collected the first conference win in his career with a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 104 Leonardo Telles on court three for the 2-0 Baylor lead. He is now 2-0 against ranked opponents this season.
No. 40 Johannes Schretter then dropped a 6-3, 6-0 match to ninth-ranked Yuya Ito at the No. 2 spot, followed by Bendeck’s 6-4, 6-0 loss to Rodrigo Banzer on court six.
Playing at the No. 1 spot for the second-straight match, 45th-ranked Soto dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision to No. 6 Christian Sigsgaard. Texas clinched the match with Lah’s 2-6, 6-0, 6-1 loss to Colin Markes at the No. 5 spot.
Playing the final match out, 82nd-ranked Little tied the highest-ranked win of his career with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 triumph over No. 59 Harrison Scott on court three.
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NOTABLES
• Baylor drops to 21-44 all-time against Texas and has lost four straight matches to the Longhorns.
• Baylor snapped its season-best nine-match winning streak.
• BU moves to 7-3 against ranked opponents this season.
• Baylor is now 17-4 in the doubles point and 16-1 when winning the opening point this season.
• Will Little tied his highest-ranked opponent of his career in singles play.
• Adrian Boitan improved to 9-3 and earned his first Big 12 singles win of his career.
• Boitan improved to 2-0 against ranked opponents this season.
• Jimmy Bendeck and Sven Lah are 11-2 in spring doubles play and 10-1 against ranked foes.
• Matias Soto and Will Little improved to 6-1 as a doubles tandem this season.
• Johannes Schretter has a team-high six wins over ranked opponents this season.
STAT OF THE MATCH
59 – the highest-ranked singles win of senior Will Little’s career.
TOP QUOTE
Head coach Brian Boland
On the loss…
“Congratulations to Texas as they played a great match. We struggled to take advantage of some opportunities today, but we will get better. It will be great to be back at home next weekend starting with Oklahoma on Friday, followed by Oklahoma State on Sunday.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor returns home to close out its regular season home schedule. The Bears face No. 17 Oklahoma Friday at 6 p.m. for Hounds at the Hurd. Then, BU hosts Senior Day against No. 27 Oklahoma State next Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Hurd Tennis Center.