Loyola faces NCAA DI University of New Orleans in their next match on Friday at 3 p.m.
NEW ORLEANS - The Loyola University New Orleans men's tennis team headed across town to face NAIA No. 2-ranked Xavier on Sunday, where they fell 6-3.
The Wolf Pack drop to 0-1 after the season-opening loss in which the team showed a lot of effort. The Gold Rush (1-3) notched their first win of the season after dropping three matches to NCAA DI opponents.
"Across the board the guys all brought a lot of effort today," said Loyola head coach Kyle Russell, who is entering his fourth season at the helm. "There was no shortage of fight from the Wolf Pack. I saw a ton of good things out there."
Competing while short one player, Xavier defaulted the matches at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles, giving Loyola two points. The Wolf Pack went into singles with a 3-1 lead after the duo of Ernesto de Diego (SR/Panama City, Panama) and Alexander DePascual (JR/Metairie, La.) stepped up for a 9-7 victory on court one against the Xavier team of Catalin Fifea and Chris Anders to close out doubles play.
"Ernesto de Diego and Alex Depascual pulled out a huge win at No. 1 doubles and I'm very proud of the way they competed," Russell said of their performance.
The Gold Rush, however, would pick up victories on five courts in singles play, clinching the 6-3 win.
"Xavier has become the Standard Bearer for NAIA tennis," Russell stated. "There was a lot that we can take away from the match, and the guys are eager to get back to work."
The next match for the Wolf Pack comes against the NCAA DI University of New Orleans on Friday, Feb. 2, at 3 p.m.
Results
Doubles competition
1. Ernesto de Diego/Alexander DePascual (LOYNO) def. Catalin Fifea/Chris Anders (XULA) 9-7
2. Samir Chikhaoui/Pierre Andrieu (XULA) def. Sean Presti (JR/Lesigny, France)/Tiger Cheung (FR/Hong Kong) (LOYNO) 8-4
3. Joseph Short (FR/Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)/Galileo Cabrales (SO/San Salvador, El Salvador) (LOYNO) def. No player/No player (XULA), by default
Singles competition
1. #42 Catalin Fifea (XULA) def. Galileo Cabrales (LOYNO) 6-0, 6-1
2. #19 Samir Chikhaoui (XULA) def. Sean Presti (LOYNO) 6-4, 6-2
3. Pierre Andrieu (XULA) def. Tiger Cheung (LOYNO) 6-2, 6-1
4. Chris Anders (XULA) def. Ernesto de Diego (LOYNO) 7-5, 6-1
5. Gabriel Niculescu (XULA) def. Alexander DePascual (LOYNO) 6-0, 6-1
6. Joseph Short (LOYNO) def. No player (XULA), by default
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,3,2,4,5)
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