The University of Texas at Tyler men’s tennis team was eliminated from the 2009 NCAA Championships with a 5-4 loss to Luther on Saturday at the Brown Tennis Courts at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.
The Patriots jumped out to an early lead in the match by taking two of three doubles points from Luther (38-5). Senior Dustin Phillips (Houston, Texas) and junior David Ashlock (Arlington, Texas) cruised to an 8-1 victory at the top flight, while senior Jordan Repsher (Friendswood, Texas) and junior Nick Kreines (Houston, Texas) pulled out a 9-8 tie-breaker win at No. 3.
Sophomore Robert Sajovich (Austin, Texas) and freshman Andrew Reznik (Southlake, Texas) dropped the lone doubles match for UT Tyler, losing 8-5 at No. 2.
In singles play, the Patriots won two of the first three points available. Sajovich won his match at No. 2, 6-1 and 6-2, while Ashlock won at No. 3, 6-2 and 6-4.
In between Sajovich and Ashlock’s finish junior Caleb Bulls (Tyler, Texas), fell in his match at No. 4, 6-4 and 6-0, to give UT Tyler a slim 4-2 lead with three matches to play.
The Patriots went on to lose the final three matches and give the Norse a 5-4 win that advances them to tomorrow’s regional final.
The UT Tyler men’s tennis team finished the 2009 season with a 19-7 record on its way to winning its sixth-straight American Southwest Conference East Division title, second-consecutive ASC Championship and make its second-straight NCAA appearance.