COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The 32nd-ranked University of Texas men's tennis team closed out its regular season with a 5-2 loss to No. 14 Texas A&M in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown on Saturday evening at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. The Aggies (14-7, 5-2 Big 12) earned 1 point for their victory over Texas (11-8, 2-5 Big 12), which leads the State Farm Lone Showdown standings, 9.5 points to 4.0. The winning school needs 10 points to claim the inaugural title.
The Longhorns fell behind early as the Aggies posted wins on all three doubles courts. Freshman Luis Diaz Barriga (Cordoba, Mexico) and sophomore Garrett Snyder (Newport Beach, Calif.) were defeated by Matt Bain and Jerry Makowski, 8-2, at the third spot before sophomore Hubert Chodkiewicz (Corpus Christi, Texas) and junior Roger Gubser (Laredo, Texas) fell to Zack Malmgren and Bryan Wooten, 8-5, at the second.
At the top of the doubles lineup, junior Callum Beale (Adelaide, Australia) and freshman Travis Helgeson (Overland Park, Kan.) challenged the 27th-ranked duo of Brett Joelson and Ante Matijevic, but were unable to record the victory, losing 9-7.
Texas A&M added to its lead with a pair of straight-set victories at the top and bottom of the singles lineup. Chodkiewicz dropped at 6-3, 6-2 decision to Bain at No. 6, while Helgeson, ranked 59th nationally, was defeated by fellow freshman and No. 23-ranked Makowski 7-5, 6-1 at No. 1.
The match was clinched by A&M at No. 5 where Mohamed Dakki split the first two set with Barriga, 1-6, 7-6 (2), before closing out the third with a 6-3 win.
The Longhorns' first victory of the evening occurred at the third doubles position where freshman Milan Mihailovic (Nis, Serbia) battled back from a first set loss to take the next two for the 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Joelson. Mihailovic has won his last three matches and is now 12-5 on the dual season.
The Aggies' then increased their lead to 5-1 after Matijevic upset 45th-ranked Beale 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at the second spot in the lineup.
Gubser, ranked 77th nationally, closed out the match with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Wooten at No. 4. With the win, Gubser improved to 11-6 in duals and 5-2 in conference.
The Texas men will return to action on Friday, April 29 for the first round of the Big 12 Tennis Championships held at Penick-Allison Tennis Center.
#14 Texas A&M 5, #32 Texas 2
Singles (Order of finish: 6, 1, 5, 3, 2, 4)
1. Jerry Makowski (A&M) def. Travis Helgeson (UT) 7-5, 6-1
2. Ante Matijevic (A&M) def. Callum Beale (UT) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
3. Milan Mihailovic (UT) def. Brett Joelson (A&M) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
4. Roger Gubser (UT) def. Bryan Wooten (A&M) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
5. Mohamed Dakki (A&M) def. Luis Diaz Barriga (UT) 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3
6. Matt Bain (A&M) def. Hubert Chodkiewicz (UT) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles (Order of finish: 3, 2, 1)
1. Joelson/Matijevic (A&M) def. Beale/Helgeson (UT) 9-7
2. Zack Malmgren/Wooten (A&M) def. Chodkiewicz/Gubser (UT) 8-5
3. Bain/Makowski (A&M) def. Barriga/Garrett Snyder (UT) 8-2
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