NORMAN, Okla.-- The UT Arlington men's tennis team (12-8) concluded their season with a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament to No. 11 Oklahoma 4-0 on Friday at the Headington Family Tennis Center.
 
The Mavericks put up a strong fight in doubles but fell short to the Sooners to go down 1-0 in the match.
 
Court 3 pair Pedro Sasso and Yazid Lahjomri were the first to fall as they struggled to overcome Hank Trondson and Asahi Harazaki. The Sooners gained the early momentum as an early break helped them dictate the match. Sasso and Lahjomri were able to secure one game before dropping the set 6-1.
 
After keeping the match close on Court 1, Dante Teramo and Andres Medus fell just short of nationally ranked Baptiste Anselmo and Alex Martinez to give the Sooners the doubles point. Teramo and Medus kept the No. 58 pair on-serve as they rallied to hold throughout the match. Near the end, Anselmo and Martinez managed the break then served for the match, giving them the 6-4 victory.
 
Joan Torres Espinosa and Meethre Barot were just shy of a victory on Court 2 when the doubles point was decided. The pair had earned an early break of serve to allow them a 5-3 advantage in the end.
 
Despite battling hard on each court, the Mavs could not overcome the Sooners in singles play as they took defeats on three courts to clinch the match.
 
First off was Court 4 as freshman Barot faced a difficult Oklahoma opponent, Luis Alvarez. Alvarez came out hot as he did not allow Barot a game to begin with, going up 5-0 early in the first set. Barot made a small push to get on the scoreboard, but ultimately fell 6-1.
 
The second set followed in a similar manner as Barot only scored two games before the match concluded. Alvarez went up 4-1 at the third changeover then broke Barot's serve to go up 5-1. Barot then earned a solid break at love to add another game but struggled to hold for the final game as Alvarez closed out 6-2.
 
No. 110 Espinosa was the next to fall as he could not overpower top-ten opponent Martinez on Court 1. Espinosa kept the first set on-serve with No. 10 Martinez until 4-3, when Martinez managed to secure the break and go up 5-3. He then served out the set, putting Espinosa at a 6-3 deficit.
 
Espinosa continued to fight in the second set, but ultimately could not overpower Martinez as the Sooners advanced to 3-0 in the match. Martinez secured an early break to put Espinosa down 3-1, but Espinosa added another game to keep the score close. A later break was the difference maker as Martinez closed out the second set 6-2.
 
With the Sooners one point away from victory, the Mavericks continued to battle on Courts 2, 3, 5 and 6 as they kept their first sets close.
 
The clincher came to Court 6, where a valiant effort from Lahjomri was not enough to triumph over Mark Mandlik. Mandlik got the first set rolling with an early break and carried a 3-0 lead into the second changeover. Lahjomri was not to be outdone as he broke back and evened the score. The score stayed close until Mandlik gained the 6-5 lead, where he managed the final break for the 7-5 win.
 
In the second set, Lahjomri could not fend off Mandlik's momentum as he struggled to win a game. Mandlik secured the 6-0 victory over Lahjomri, which clinched the match for the Sooners.
 
Teramo was in the middle of a tough fight on Court 2 after winning the first set 7-5 over No. 69 Kholo Montsi. Medus was also fighting hard on Court 3 after falling 7-6 (3) in the first set then going up 3-2 in the second set. Sasso was not far behind Justin Schlageter on Court 5 at 5-5 in the second set after dropping the first 6-4.
 
The Mavericks finish their season with a 12-8 overall record. They went 6-0 against conference opponents as they secured their second consecutive Western Athletic Conference (WAC) regular season and tournament championships. The season also concludes with the Mavs' first win over Big 12 opponent Texas Tech since 2001.
 
UTA 0, OU 4
Doubles

1. No. 58 Baptiste Anselmo/ Alex Martinez (OU) def. Dante Teramo/ Andres Medus (UTA) 6-4
2. Unfinished
3. Hank Trondson/ Asahi Harazaki (OU) def. Pedro Sasso/ Yazid Lahjomri (UTA) 6-1

Singles

1. No. 10 Alex Martinez (OU) def. No. 110 Joan Torres Espinosa 6-3, 6-2
2. Unfinished
3. Unfinished
4. Luis Alvarez (OU) def. Meethre Barot (UTA) 6-1, 6-2
5. Unfinished
6. Mark Mandlik (OU) def. Yazid Lahjomri (UTA) 7-5, 6-0

 
   
 
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