Ousted.
The UNM men's tennis visit to the NCAA Tournament was short and unsatisfying.
The Lobos were kicked to the curb by 33rd-ranked Minnesota 4-0 on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles. UNM finishes the year 20-6 overall.
Despite the lopsided score, head coach Alan Dils said he couldn't fault his team.
"We gave it all we've got," Dils said in a phone interview Friday. "We never stopped fighting. And that's really all I can ask for out of our guys."
The Lobos dropped the doubles point with losses at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles positions. Senior Graeme Kassautzki and sophomore Joe Wood lost 8-4. Freshmen Ben Dunbar and Carl Ho dropped an 8-6 decider.
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In singles, senior Johnny Parkes was the only Lobo to win his first set at the No. 1 singles position. He led Minnesota's Ishay Hadash when play was suspended.
Minnesota's Dino Bilankov put the Gophers up, downing Dunbar 6-4, 6-1. Then, Julian Dehn beat freshman Phil Anderson 6-2, 6-3 at No. 5 singles to put the Gophers up 3-0.
Minnesota's Sebastian Gallego clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Lobo senior Miles Bugby at No. 3 singles.
"It was a tough way to end the season for our seniors," Dils said. "But it was a great year for us, and I'm excited about the young talent we have coming back next season."
Parkes will compete in the NCAA singles competition in College Station, Texas, beginning May 20. Parkes earned an automatic bid to the tournament after posting a 23-2 spring singles record and being named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year. He needs one more win to take the top spot on the UNM career singles list.
