RENO, Nev. – Nevada opened Mountain West play with a win Friday, bouncing back from losing the doubles point to claim a 4-3 victory over Air Force at McArthur Tennis Center.
Satchel Benn got the comeback started at No. 6, rolling to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jordan Azuma, while Delmas N'Tcha, at No. 1, grabbed a point with a come-from-behind effort of his own. After falling behind, 4-1, in the opening set to Air Force's Paul Hendrix, N'Tcha reeled off five-straight games to take the set, 6-4, and finished the match with a 6-4 second-set triumph.
The teams traded points over the first four singles matches, giving Air Force (4-5, 0-1 MW) a 3-2 lead. But the Pack (5-5, 1-0 MW) had the inside track on the dual, with Isaac Nortey (at No. 2) and Daniel Dudockin (at No. 4) each leading their opponents by a set.
Dudockin would even the dual at 3-3, finishing off Sean McKendree in straight sets, 7-6 (4), 6-2. And Nortey would clinch the victory for Nevada (5-4, 1-0 MW), 7-6 (3), 6-4, over Justin Waldman.
In doubles action, Nortey and Juan Batalla claimed the Pack's victory at No. 1, besting Hendrix and Jamie Bautista, 6-4. But the Falcons took the point as Robert Baylon and Azuma grabbed a 6-4 win over Benn and Dudockin at No. 2.
The Pack wraps the weekend Sunday, hosting UC Davis at 1 p.m.
Nevada 4, Air Force 3 results
Doubles
1. Juan Batalla/Isaac Nortey (NEV) def. Paul Hendrix/Jamie Bautista (AF) 6-4
2. Robert Baylon/Jordan Azuma (AF) def. Satchel Benn/Daniel Dudockin (NEV) 6-4
3. Sean McKendree/Justin Waldman (AF) def. Loris Zisswiller/Benjamin Campi (NEV) 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles
1. Delmas N'Tcha (NEV) def. Hendrix (AF) 6-4, 6-4
2. Nortey (NEV) def. Waldman (AF) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
3. Baylon (AF) def. Batalla (NEV) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
4. Dudockin (NEV) def. McKendree (AF) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
5. Nick Vroman (AF) def. Campi (NEV) 6-3, 6-2
6. Benn (NEV) def. Azuma (AF) 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish: 6, 5, 1, 3, 4