GERALD WALLACE TENNIS CENTER, MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's Tennis team suffered the first defeat of the 2023 season on Thursday afternoon, Mar. 23, falling to Loyola University (La.), 4-3. The loss drops No. 25 Mobile's overall record to 4-1 one day after the Rams climbed back into the latest NAIA Men's Tennis Top 25 rankings. Additionally, Mobile opens SSAC action with a loss to drop the conference record to 0-1.
Recap: Loyola 4, (25) Mobile 3
The Rams opened the afternoon bout with Loyola by grabbing the all important doubles point with two victories. From the top flight, Joao Pedro Okano and Alex Verdu teamed up for Mobile to hand Loyola's top doubles pair a 6-2 loss. The second-seeded duo of Santiago Diloreto and Aoi Kambara followed that with a 6-3 win from the second slot in the lineup to earn Mobile the doubles point. The No. 3 doubles match did not finish.Â
In singles action, Loyola bounced back, taking four of six singles matches to earn the overall match win. Mobile's two wins came from the first and fifth spots in the lineup, with Joao Pedro Okano winning 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) as Mobile's top seed. In the fifth flight, Sergio Ruiz Ramiro came away with a 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-0 victory to score Mobile's second win in singles. However, the Wolf Pack managed to knock off Mobile in the remaining four singles battles, and earned the 4-3 win.
Rebounding on Saturday
With Mobile suffering a tough defeat to an unranked Loyola team to open conference action, the Rams will look to bounce back on Saturday, Mar. 25 with a road match against Dillard University at 1:00 p.m. CT. Saturday's match is a conference match and will be played in New Orleans, La.
Â
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
