ARLINGTON, Texas – The Newman men's tennis team secured a thrilling 4-3 comeback win over second-seeded St. Mary's Friday afternoon (Apr. 26) in the Heartland Conference Semifinals. The Jets improve to 9-15 on the season, while securing a spot in the Heartland Conference Championship for the first time since the 2017 season.
The Jets fell behind 1-0 to the Rattlers, after suffering losses at No. 1 and No. 3. No. 2 doubles, Blake Crawford and Szbin Pusztay were leading 5-2 at the time of the doubles clinching point.
Senior, Blake Crawford put the Jets on the board claiming the first singles match of the day in two sets (6-2, 6-4).
Trailing 3-1 in the match facing the brink of elimination, No. 2 Arthur Esteves Justo, No. 5 Teodor Antelj and No. 6 Marcel Miasato were just getting started forcing three, third sets.
After dropping the opening set 5-7, Antelj came back strongly with a 6-3 second and 6-0 match clinching third set cutting the deficit to one, 3-2.
Need to win out to keep the match alive, Miasato got off to a strong start claiming the first set at No. 6 singles 6-4 (7-0). Following a second set loss 6-2, Miasato survived in the third set 7-6 knotting the match up at 3-3.
In a winner take all match, No. 2 singles Arthur Esteves Justo concluded the Newman comeback in the third set, recording a match clinching service ace.
RESULTS
Singles
#1 Lauri Soome (NU) lost Jeremiah Gonzalez (STMU) – 2-6, 4-6
#2 Arthur Justo (NU) def. Bojan Popovic (STMU) – 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
#3 Blake Crawford (NU) def. Jose Antelo (STMU) – 6-2, 6-4
#4 Szbin Pusztay (NU) lost Louis Bonnay (STMU) – 4-6, 4-6
#5 Teodor Antelj (NU) def. Alex Gee (STMU) – 5-7, 6-3, 6-0
#6 Marcel Miasato (NU) def. Brendan Brown (STMU) – 6-4 (7-0), 2-6, 7-6
Doubles Competition
#1 Justo/Soome (NU) lost Gonzalez/Antelo (STMU) – 1-6
#2 Crawford/Pustay (NU) vs. Popovic/Brown (STMU) – 5-2 (Unfinished)
#3 Antelj/Miasato (NU) lost Konakanchi/Gee (STMU) – 3-6
The tennis teams will play for the 2019 Heartland Conference Championship tomorrow afternoon against top-seeded St. Edward's. First serve is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. from the Arlington Tennis Center in Arlington, Texas.
