Four-year schools too strong for Bronco tennis

NMMI Sports Press

MIDLAND — It was a tough day for both the Bronco men’s and women’s tennis teams at the West Texas Shootout in Midland Friday, but while neither team came home with any victories, both teams NMMI faced were top four-year schools.
Midwestern University, which blanked both Institute squads 9-0 in the morning matches, is highly ranked both as a team and individually.
Bronco Herman Abban faced the No. 39-ranked NCAA DII player in the country, “and played him closer than the score indicated,” said men’s coach William O’Connell. Abban lost 6-3, 6-3, “But it was a close 6-3.”
Abban and Noureldin Adam lost 8-4 in No. 1 doubles to the 20th-ranked team nationally, and Adam took his No. 2 singles opponent to three sets, falling 4-6, 6-2, 13-11.
“It was tough but up top we competed well,” O’Connell said.
In the afternoon match, the Broncos lost to Our Lady of the Lake, with several matches going to three sets and even tie breakers. O’Connell said his squad might have won that match.
“We actually just needed to play better across the board,” he said. “The guys did a good job of competing, but we didn’t do as well as we would have liked and hat’s off to Our Lady of the Lake for closing us out. They played well.”
But despite losing, there’s always something to learn, O’Connell said.
“For sure, especially with Midwestern. Extremely professional team. Well coached. They showed us what a top-notch team looks like, and I think the guys made a lot of mental notes today as far as how they can and should conduct themselves not just on the court, but even getting ready for matches and after matches.”
The Lady Broncos only played vs. Midwestern, falling by the same 9-0 score, but women’s coach Dan O’Connell agreed with his son that the Mustangs are a tough team.
“They’re very good. That was a good lesson for us,” he said. “I think the girls played overall very well. It’s just that the others were very strong players. Thea did very well, losing 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 1 singles, and the top four players were competitive. And Amanda (Hawkins) and Kasha (Rosikon), they tried their best.”
Both teams wrap up the tournament Saturday with games against Sul Ross State, another four-year college, but both coaches are thinking positive.
“I think we should do very well in that match,” said Dan O’Connell.
“Hopefully we can finish strong and get another W on the board,” William agreed. “They should be a pretty good match for us, so we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
Men
Midwestern State University 9, NMMI 0
Singles
No. 1, Ramon Toyos, MSU, def. Herman Abban, NMMI, 6-3, 6-3
No. 2, Radu Popa, MSU, def. Noureldin Adam, NMMI, 4-6, 6-2, 13-11
No. 3, Dylan Hall, MSU, def. Tebatibunga Bira, NMMI, 6-0, 6-1
No. 4, Benjamin Neander, MSU, def. Dave Romero, NMMI, 6-1, 6-0
No. 5, Chris Norrie, MSU, def. Brian Collier, NMMI, 6-0, 6-0
No. 6, MSU wins by default
Doubles
No. 1 Kyle Davidson/Toyos, MSU, def. Abban/Adam, NMMI, 8-4
No. 2 Popa/Norrie, MSU, def. Romero/Bira, NMMI, 8-2
No. 3, MSU wins by default
Our Lady of the Lake 5, NMMI 4
Singles
No. 1, Herman Abban, NMMI, def. Ross Marzetti, OLL, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2, Noureldin Adam, NMMI, def. Mathias Rocha, OLL, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (3)
No. 3, Tebatibunga Bira, NMMI, def. Bernado Pegas, OLL, 6-4, 2-6, 10-6
No. 4, Tanis Martinez, OLL, def. Dave Romero, NMMI, 6-3, 6-1
No. 5, Jacob Galaviz, OLL, def. Brian Collier, NMMI, 6-2, 6-0
No. 6, Pablo Cavasos, OLL, wins by default
Doubles
No. 1, Abban/Adam, NMMI, def. Marzetti/Rocha, OLL, 8-6
No. 2, Pegas/Rocha, OLL, def. Romero/Bira, NMMI, 9-8 (5)
No. 3, Galaviz/Cavasos, OLL, win by default
Women
Midwestern State University 9, NMMI 0
Singles
No. 1, Maddie Schorlemmer, MSU, def. Thea Minor, NMMI, 6-4, 6-2
No. 2, Greta Lazzarotto, MSU, def. Francisca Nyarko, NMMI, 6-1, 6-3
No. 3, Erini Kontaki, MSU, def. Lorraine Banimataku, NMMI, 6-2, 6-2
No. 4, Lauren Pineda, MSU, def. Lorish Puluspene, NMMI, 6-2, 6-3
No. 5, Abby White, MSU, def. Amanda Hawkins, NMMI, 6-1, 6-2
No. 6, Alexis Arrieta, MSU, def. Kasia Rosikon, NMMI, 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1, Kontaki/Nochowicz, MSU, def. Minor/Banimataku, NMMI, 8-2
No. 2, Clifton/Pineda, MSU, def. Nyarko/Pulusphene, NMMI, 8-0
No. 3, Schorlemmer/Lazzarotto, MSU, def. Hawkins/Rosikon, NMMI, 8-0