LUBBOCK – Abilene Christian scored its first win of the season in grand style on Sunday, knocking off Texas Tech 4-3.
Freshman Merse Deli got the match-claiming win, beating Sebastian Abboud in fifth singles, 6-4, 6-4.
ACU won the doubles point with some drama as well. After Dario Kmet and Daniel Morozov won at No. 1 doubles, 6-4, Texas Tech tied the score with a 6-4 win at third doubles.
Benjamin McDonald and Ethan Scribner claimed the doubles point for ACU with a 6-4 win at line two doubles.
“We’ve had a lot of struggles with doubles and we’ve talked a lot about it,” said ACU Head Coach Juan Nunez. “We’ve been trying to get on the same page about who should be partners. It just really comes down to doing the things you have to do no matter who you are partners with. They bought into that and I liked their energy today.
Cesar Barranquero gave ACU a 2-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lorenzo Esqui at No. 3 singles. Texas Tech won at second and fourth singles to tie the match at 2-2.
“Cesar just ran through his match and to see him play like that was awesome,” Nunez said. “DK (Kmet) played a guy who was more suited to the conditions but he played him tough. He dragged that match out and made their team think nothing was going to come easy. I think it created a little doubt. Ben played a great first set at No. 4 and it looked like he began to doubt himself a little bit but the style I want him to play, he needs to be able to fight through the little setbacks. But again, he did a great job of making his opponent work.”
Daniel Morozov upset No. 71 Ollie Wallin at No. 1 singles, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5) for a 3-2 ACU lead. The Red Raiders took the No. 6 singles match, leaving things to be determined at No. 5 singles.
“That was a win for Dani in so many ways,” Nunez said. “He had a little bit of a down year last year and to see him compete so hard for so long today – that was a long match – and it was really exciting.
With four courts, the match was left to the two freshmen, Merse Deli and Dennis Dutine,
“I brought those two guys here because I believed they could do this for us,” said Nunez, “I just wish it wasn’t in the third match of the season. I’m not surprised they could handle it. I wish they had a little more experience before going into a situation like this.”
Deli, who was WAC Men’s Singles Player of the Week last week after a win against Baylor, came through again on Sunday and was stormed by his exuberant teammates.
“Merse lost in doubles and I told him that he needed to be tougher when things aren’t going right,” Nunez said. “And then to see him respond in singles the way he did, that was amazing.”
For Nunez, the win was as much about the culture as the play on the court.
“One thing the guys didn’t know is that I had Mihaly Deli in the lineup but after the morning practice I thought the conditions favored Ben,” Nunez said. “I had that tough conversation with Mihaly and told him what I was considering but I said that if he believes he can be that guy for us, I’ll keep him in the lineup. He told me he wanted to play but said I should do what’s best for the team. I went with Ben. Mihaly took that role on the sideline and was loud for his teammates all day. I don’t think he has a voice left. That’s a testament to what they have built here.”
The Wildcats get back to action Wednesday at Texas Christian.
Abilene Christian 4, Texas Tech 3
Singles competition
1. Daniel Morozov (ACU) def. #71 Olle Wallin (TTU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5)
2. #114 Reed Collier (TTU) def. Dario Kmet (ACU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
3. Cesar Barranquero (ACU) def. Lorenzo Esquici (TTU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Jonas Gundacker (TTU) def. Benjamin McDonald (ACU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Merse Deli (ACU) def. Sebastian Abboud (TTU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Niksa Arsic (TTU) def. Dennis Dutine (ACU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Dario Kmet/Daniel Morozov (ACU) def. Reed Collier/Jonas Gundacker (TTU) 6-4
2. Benjamin McDonald/Ethan Scribner (ACU) def. Olle Wallin/Lorenzo Esquici (TTU) 6-4
3. Sebastian Abboud/Piotr Pawlak (TTU) def. Merse Deli/Jose Maria Rastrojo (ACU) 6-4
Match Notes:
Abilene Christian 1-2
Texas Tech 2-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,4,2,1,6,5)