April 6, 2012
Final Stats
RENO, Nev. - Nevada dropped a tightly contested match to New Mexico State at Lakeridge Tennis Club Friday, falling 4-3 to the Aggies in a WAC Contest.
The loss dropped Nevada to 7-10 (1-3 WAC), while Mew Mexico State improved to 6-13 (2-3 WAC).
"You always learn a lesson in tough matches like this one," head coach Erik Burton said. "Some of our guys battled very hard and we fell just short in a very close match."
The Wolf Pack came out of the gates strong, winning at each of the three doubles positions to take the early 1-0 lead.
The Aggies fought back in singles play, where they would earn victories at Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 6. Nevada wins came from Wessim Derbel at one and Fernando Sunago at the four. Each was pushed to the limit, taking their matches in three sets.
Derbel beat Matej Stakne in come-from-behind fashion, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Sunago won his first set, going on to defeat Germain Degardin 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. Derbel's win improved his record in conference play to 3-1 and put him four wins away from tying the Nevada single-season record of 27. He is now 23-6 overall and 13-4 in dual play for the Pack this year.
Sunago continued to play well out of the No. 4 spot, where he is 4-2 this season in dual matches. He is 6-8 overall in dual play, having seen time at the fifth and sixth singles positions.
Nevada will be off Saturday, but will stay at home to take on Portland State on Sunday at 10 a.m. The match will be held at Lakeridge with free admission to all fans.
