Details, details, details are the only things on the minds ofthe men’s tennis team after this week’s toughcompetitions.
After two losses to nationally ranked teams including the No. 2Baylor Bears and the No. 12 Rice Owls, the Mustang’s recordfalls to 14-10 on the season.
Although the men lost both of their matches to intrastaterivals, doubles play is improving, singles play is more focused,and the Mustang’s are ready to rip into the postseason.
The team heads into postseason play under the leadership ofsenior Johan Brunstrom, SMU’s No. 1 player.
“We have to work on the small details,” Brunstromsaid. “We have two weeks to work on tactics and improve everyaspect of our game.”
Brunstrom, one of the top-ranked singles players in the nation,continued to play well after dominating the No. 10 ranked BenjaminBecker of Baylor 6-2. 6-4 in last Thursday’s match up.However, on Sunday, Brunstrom fell to Rice’s 41st rankedSearle in a close match (7-5, 4-6, 6-3.)
“That match [versus Baylor’s Becker] was definitelymy best match of the season,” Brunstrom said. “I wasreally relaxed and able to play aggressive the entirematch.”
“Against Rice I was basically playing [Searle’s]game, I wasn’t aggressive and I wasn’t servingwell.”
The Mustangs fell short of a victory on Sunday in a close 4-3match against No. 12 Rice (20-3.)
The Owls swept the doubles point with the sixth-ranked tandem ofRichard and William Barkers who defeated the 28th-ranked duo ofBrunstrom and Henrik Soderberg.
The Owls also added two more doubles victories over theChingoka/McNaughton and Oredsson/Murgier duos.However, SMU steppedup in singles play, scoring victories at the four, five and sixspots, but the Owls’ top trio was too much for theMustangs.
Lukasz Senczyszyn led the team Sunday with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 winat No. 4 singles. Alex Skrypko won at No. 5 singles 6-2, 6-3 andPeter Oredsson was victorious at the No. 6 spot 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
This Sunday’s loss was preceded by Thursday’s lossin Waco as the Mustangs fell to Baylor 5-2 with the only pointscoming from Brunstrom and Skrypko.
“I’m excited about the way we are playing,”head coach Carl Neufeld said. “This is the toughest schedulewe’ve had in years, and the guys are responding well. We arefocused on the NCAA’s, everything else has beenpreparation.”
Monday, Brunstrom was named WAC player of the week for the thirdtime in just six weeks, despite Sunday’s loss.Brunstrom’s straight set victory over Baylor’s Becker,marks the second time this month he has knocked off a top 10singles player. Brunstrom defeated then No. 1 nationally rankedBenedikt Dorsch 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 on March 10.
Brunstrom has been named WAC player of the week three times inthe past six weeks.
“Johan is playing the best tennis of his life,”Neufeld said. “It’s fun for me…to see him peakduring his last semester. He’s playing tremendous.”
The men return to action at 2 p.m. on Wednesday when they hostthe University of Texas-Arlington.
The Mustangs finish the regular season this Saturday againstanother top team, the University of Texas.
