Both Loyola tennis squads went 2-1 at the annual conference event, earning wins against Bethel and Martin Methodist over the weekend
MOBILE, Ala. – The Loyola University New Orleans men's and women's tennis teams faced a tough challenge at the end of the SSAC Round Up, falling to Middle Georgia State on Saturday.
The 20th-ranked Wolf Pack women's team "came out with a lot of fire," according to head coach Kyle Russell, winning two out of the three doubles matches. The duo of Chandler Harmon and Nadja Ochsner earned an 8-5 win on court three, followed by the team of Manuela Alban and Catherine Jordan winning 9-8 on court two.
"Chandler and Nadja played extremely well on court three and made quick work of that team," Russell said. "In a long, drawn-out No. 2 doubles, Catherine and Manuela came through in a tiebreaker to go up 2-1 in the match score."
Middle Georgia won matches on five of the six singles courts to win the match 6-3, but the Pack were able to play them tough on some courts, with Ochsner picking up her second win of the day in a 6-2, 6-4 result on court six.
"I would say that the highlights of the singles matches, Russell said, "were Nadja grinding out a win at No. 6 as well as some other performances that fell short due to a lack of match play, which we will soon remedy, and be the type of team that can win a match like that very soon."
On the men's side, Middle Georgia won every match in both singles and doubles, but Ernesto Telles and Alexander DePascual were able to force third-set tiebreakers in their matches on courts four and five.
"The guys all had good matches," said Russell. "They showed they belonged. Middle Georgia's one of the best teams in the country this year; they're strong from top to bottom. We had our chances in doubles, but overall, the guys are feeling confident because they were hanging with a very good team on most courts, so we look forward to fixing some things and getting better in the future."
Both tennis teams, now 4-3 on the season, will return to New Orleans for the first home match of the year when they host NCAA-DI school Nicholls State on Wednesday, February 20, at 2 p.m. in City Park.
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 Results
Loyola (RV) – 0
Middle Georgia – 9
Doubles
1. Prada/Merah (MGA) def. Cabrales/Cheung (LOY) 8-3
2. Freitas/Tamola (MGA) def. Marin/De Pascual (LOY) 8-5
3. Syromolotov/Otero (MGA) def. Telles/Saenz (LOY) 8-6
Singles
1. Yuri Syromolotov (MGA) def. Galileo Cabrales (LOY) 6-3, 6-3
2. Jimmy Merah (MGA) def. Tiger Cheung (LOY) 6-1, 6-2
3. Lucas De Freitas (MGA) def. Samuel Marin (LOY) 7-5,6-2
4. Octavio Tamola (MGA) def. Alexander DePascual (LOY) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
5. Alejandro Prada (MGA) def. Ernesto Telles (LOY) 5-7, 6-2, 1-0
6. Santino Romeo (MGA) def. Emilio Saenz (LOY) 6-3,6-2
Women's Results
Loyola (20) – 3
Middle Georgia State – 6
Doubles
1. Nagele/Nobis (MGA) def. Martinez/Pepper (LOY) 8-1
2. Jordan/Alban (LOY) def. Persiani/Pereyra (MGA) 9-8
3. Ochsner/Harmon (LOY) def. Heer/Rajovic (MGA) 8-5
Singles
1. Maike Nagele (MGA) def. Chandler Harmon (LOY) 6-3,6-1
2. Andjela Rajovic (MGA) def. Koral Martinez (LOY) 6-2, 6-2
3. Luciana Pereyra (MGA) def. Manuela Alban (LOY) 6-4, 6-3
4. Franziska Nobis (MGA) def. Catherine Jordan (LOY) 6-3, 6-0
5. Lara Persiani (MGA) def. Arianna Pepper (LOY) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0
6. Nadja Ochsner (LOY) def. Jacqueline Heer (MGA) 6-2, 6-4
