Loyola's men's team scored a 5-2 victory over fifth-seeded Martin Methodist while the women's team took down NAIA No. 18-ranked Mobile 5-3. Both teams will continue play tomorrow at 10 a.m.
MOBILE, Ala. - The Loyola University New Orleans men's and women's tennis teams both had a majorly successful first day of the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Championship tournament, as each team picked up victories and will be heading to the next round.
The NAIA No. 23-ranked Wolf Pack women's team, now 12-7 on the season and the fifth seed in the tournament, faced off against No. 18 University of Mobile, the fourth seed, in a rematch from their New Orleans showdown less than two weeks ago. Having fallen 4-5 in the previous matchup, the Pack came out on top in this postseason match, 5-3.
"The girls came to play today," said head coach Kyle Russell. "They were full of fight and full of belief."
A key for the Pack all season long has been to earn early points by playing well in doubles matches, and they did just that today. The duo of Margaret Adams (JR/Fairhope, Ala.) and Nadja Ochsner (SO/Stein, Switzerland) started things off, winning 8-1 on court three while improving their record at No. 3 doubles this season to 7-2. Then the team of Arianna Pepper (SO/Arequipa, Peru) and Koral Martinez (JR/Lajas, Puerto Rico), now 7-1 at No. 1 doubles, shut out the opposition 8-0 on court one as the Pack took a 2-1 lead into singles play.
"Arianna and Koral came out of the gates firing," said Russell. "They beat one of the best doubles teams in the country 8-0. That coupled with an impressive 8-1 victory at number 3 by Nadja and Margaret set the table for the win today."
Pepper continued her success in singles, improving her overall singles record to 10-2 with her 6-0, 6-0 shutout on court three. Mobile would then tie the score at 3-3, with each team needing wins on two of the remaining three courts to clinch the match. Gabrielle Terranova (FR/Metairie, La.) got the first of those victories, a 6-4, 6-2 result on court five. Then to clinch the match at No. 6 singles, Miranda Cano (SO/Weston, Fla.) triumphed 6-2, 6-4 as the Wolf Pack advance to the next round.
"Gabby, Miranda and Arianna took care of business," Russell stated, "to propel us into the semi-finals for the first time in the SSAC. These girls continue to impress."
Loyola's men's team, seeded fourth in the tournament, also secured a first-round victory, defeating the fifth-seeded Martin Methodist 5-2 as the Pack improve to 12-7 on the season.
The Wolf Pack created a big advantage by sweeping all three doubles matches to sit at 3-0 heading into singles play. Sitting out the last match of the season due to injury, Alexander DePascual (JR/Metairie, La.) was back on the court with his season-long doubles partner Ernesto de Diego (SR/Panama City, Panama) as they kicked off doubles with an 8-1 win on court one. "We got Alex back from injured reserve and he didn't waste any time getting back in the mix," said Russell. "He and Ernesto played one of their best doubles matches of the year."
Galileo Cabrales (SO/San Salvador, El Salvador) and Joseph Short (FR/Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), now 2-0 as a doubles team this season, won 8-4 on court three. "Galo and Telles continued to represent El Salvador with another win at 3," Russell said.
Then the team of Joseph Short and Sean Presti (JR/Lesigny, France) came out on top in a tight 9-8 (5) match on court two, described by Coach Russell as a "very gritty comeback which turned out to be extremely valuable later on."
Martin Methodist chipped away at the Loyola lead by taking the first two singles matches to make it 3-2.
"The singles were tight and both teams were scrappy," added Russell.
Short extended the Wolf Pack lead to 4-2 with his 6-3, 6-2 win on court five, setting up the senior de Diego at the No. 3 spot to clinch the match for the Pack, which he did with his 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 victory. With the win, Loyola sweeps the season series with the RedHawks 2-0.
"In the end a freshman and a senior teamed up to clinch the match for us," Russell concluded. "Joey kept his focus all the way through and de Diego did what he's done for four years here at Loyola, play clutch tennis for the Wolf Pack."
With both Wolf Pack tennis squads advancing to the semifinals, they will continue play in the SSAC Championship tournament Friday morning. The No. 4 seed men's team will take on the No. 1-seeded Mobile at 10 a.m. tomorrow in a rematch from two Fridays ago. Also playing at 10 a.m. tomorrow, the fifth-seeded Loyola's women's team will be facing off against the No. 1 seed in their bracket, William Carey.
You can keep up with the Pack this season by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
Men's Tennis
Loyola - 5
Martin Methodist - 2
Doubles
1. Ernesto de Diego/Alexander DePascual (LOYNO) def. Nicolas Galleguillo/Raphael Manzione (MMC) 8-1
2. Joseph Short/Sean Presti (LOYNO) def. Jesús Quesada/Eduardo Costa (MMC) 9-8 (5)
3. Galileo Cabrales/Ernesto Telles (SO/El Salvador, San Salvador) (LOYNO) def. Carson Clayton/Manuel Rodillo (MMC) 8-4
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
1. Jesus Quesada (MMC) def. Galileo Cabrales (LOYNO) 6-0, 6-2
2. Nicolas Galleguillo (MMC) def. Sean Presti (LOYNO) 6-2, 6-0
3. Ernesto de Diego (LOYNO) def. Raphael Manzione (MMC) 6-0, 3-6, 6-2
4. Alex DePascual (LOYNO) v. Brad Prada (MMC) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0, unfinished
5. Joey Short (LOYNO) def. Eduardo Costa (MMC) 6-3, 6-2
6. Manuel Rodillo (MMC) v. Ernesto Telles (LOYNO) 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
Order of finish: 1, 2, 5, 3
Women's Tennis
No. 23 Loyola - 5
No. 18 Mobile - 3
Doubles
1. Arianna Pepper/Koral Martinez (LOYNO) def. Mariah Plauth/Sina Marchione (UM) 8-0
2. Emily Chang/Marina Capitani (UM) def. Manuela Alban (FR/Quito, Ecuador ) (FR/Quito, Ecuador )/Miranda Cano (LOYNO) 8-2
3. Margaret Adams/Nadja Ochsner (LOYNO) def. Claire Travis/Thamires Kasabkojian (UM) 8-1
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. Koral Martinez (LOYNO) vs. Mariah Plauth (UM) 5-7, 1-2, unfinished
2. Emily Chang (UM) def. Manuela Alban (LOYNO) 6-2, 6-2
3. Arianna Pepper (LOYNO) def. Claire Travis (UM) 6-0, 6-0
4. Sina Marchione (UM) def. Nadja Ochsner (LOYNO) 6-1, 6-1
5. Gabrielle Terranova (LOYNO) def. Mariana Capitani (UM) 6-4, 6-2
6. Miranda Cano (LOYNO) def. Thamires Kasabkojian (UM) 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 2, 4, 5, 6
