DALLAS – The Cameron men’s tennis team opened its season this weekend with a pair of matches against Collin College and the University of Texas-Arlington (UTA).
Cameron’s men’s and women’s tennis coach James Helvey said this Texas trip is one he has been taking for several years and it continues to prove beneficial for his team.
“This trip is really good practice for the guys and is a good gauge for me to know where we stand and what we need to work on,” Helvey said. “UTA is consistently good and one of the top teams in their region, and Collin has the potential to win the National Junior College title this year.”
The men played Collin on Thursday, in Plano and were upset in a 7-2 loss. The Cougars are a tough squad who are 4-0 on the season and have already picked up an impressive win against another Lone Star Conference team in the University of the Incarnate Word.
The Aggies were only able to snag one victory in doubles play. CU’s No. 1 duo of Thomas Peixoto and Duje Janjic took out Collin’s Michael Tymkiw and Kyle Rowe in a close 9-8(4) match. The Black and Gold’s doubles tandems at the No. 2 and 3 positions fell in equally tight matches, each losing by only one break of serve.
In singles, Freshman Nicolai Ferrigno dispatched Donovan McSeveney at the No. 3 spot in a routine 6-2, 6-4 contest. The Aggies tasted defeat at the remaining singles positions, but put up quite a fight. Janjic and Jorge Gerosi each fought out three competitive sets before falling to their counterparts at the No. 2 and 6 slots.
Yesterday, CU battled against the University of Texas-Arlington, a Divison I opponent. The Aggie men fought hard, but were unable to secure the victory.
UTA clenched all three doubles matches; however, the Black and Gold’s Gerosi and Gonzalo Garzon nearly overcame Nicolas Moreno and Stefan Williams at the No. 3 position, but were defeated in a tough 9-7 decision.
Ferrigno secured CU’s only win of the day at the No. 3 singles slot. The Dane took the first set in relative ease, but dropped the second after suffering a single break of serve. Ferrigno managed to keep his nerve and close out the third set in tense tie-breaker, allowing him to earn the 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(3) victory.
Peixoto and Gerosi put forth staunch efforts in their matches as well, yet ultimately fell to their opponents.
Peixoto dropped the first set of his match and then rallied back to win the second. A super tiebreaker was played to decide the contest, and while the Brazilian played courageously, it was not enough to overcome his counterpart at the No. 1 spot. UTA’s Mindaugas Celedinas came away with the 6-4, 6-7(4), 13-11 win.
Gerosi also played exceptional tennis, but like Peixoto, he found himself just short of solidifying the victory. UTA’s Williams got the better of the Argentine and grossed the match with the 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 decision.
Helvey said he was very pleased with how his team performed in the two days of play.
“The guys played great for it being the beginning of February and the weather being so cold. I was impressed with what I saw; we played tough tennis. I proud of our opening weekend and am looking forward to playing again in two weeks,” he said.
The CU team was scheduled to play an additional match today, but it was cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. The next action for both the Aggie men and women will be at 1 p.m. on February 24 at the Streich-Henry Tennis Complex where they face-off against Cowley College.
