MOBILE TENNIS CENTER, MOBILE, Ala. - Competing on Thursday through Saturday, Mar. 30 - Apr. 1 in the annual SSAC Men's Tennis Roundup, the University of Mobile Men's Tennis team came away with a 1-2 record in the annual conference meeting, dropping the first two matches played on Thursday and Friday.
Mobile opened the tournament on Thursday with a 6-1 loss to No. 9 Middle Georgia State, and followed that with a 4-3 defeat to Florida National on Friday. The two losses for the Rams across Thursday and Friday extended Mobile's losing skid to four-straight matches, with Mobile falling 4-3 to Dillard University last weekend in New Orleans, La. However, the Rams managed to get back into the win column on the final day of the SSAC Men's Tennis Roundup, earning a 4-2 victory over Blue Mountain Christian.
On the 2023 season, Mobile's overall record currently sits at 5-4 on the year, while the conference moves to 1-4.
Thursday Notables - Mobile 1, (9) Middle Georgia State 6
- Mobile managed just one singles and doubles win over the Knights of Middle Georgia State, securing a victory in the second flight of doubles play and the top-seeded match in singles action.
- Joao Pedro Okano was part of both Mobile wins on Thursday, winning 6-1 from No. 2 doubles with teammate Alex Verdu.
- Pedro Okano later earned a 7-5, 6-3 victory from the top singles match in the lineup.
- Middle Georgia State earned five singles wins and secured the doubles point for the five-point win over Mobile.
Friday Notables - Mobile 3, Florida National 4
- In what many considered an upset, the Conquistadors handed the Rams their fourth-straight loss with a one-point win.
- Florida National took two doubles matches against the Rams for the doubles point, later winning three singles matches for the match victory.
- In singles play, Mobile's top two seeds of Joao Pedro Okano and Aoi Kambara earned victories, with Pedro Okano winning 6-0, 6-3 and Kambara taking home a 7-6, 6-4 win.
- Sergio Ruiz Ramiro joined Mobile's top two seeds in earning wins in singles play, with Ramiro finishing Friday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory from No. 4 singles.
Saturday Notables - Mobile 4, Blue Mountain Christian 2
- The Rams opened the match securing the important doubles point after wins from the second and third flights in the doubles lineup.
- Joao Pedro Okano and Alex Verdu teamed up for a 7-5 doubles win from No. 2 doubles, while Santiago Diloreto and Aoi Kambara also came away with a 7-5 doubles win from the third flight.
- In singles play, Mobile picked up wins from the first, fifth, and sixth flights to secure the match win.
- Mobile's top seed of Pedro Okano won in three sets, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, while Alex Verdu and Santiago Diloreto picked up straight-set wins in the fifth and six flights.
- Verdu earned a 6-4, 6-1 victory, while Diloreto won 6-2, 6-2. Diloreto's win became the match-clincher for the Rams.
- Blue Mountain earned wins in the second and third-seeded singles matches. No. 6 singles did not finish.
Three Matches Remain on Regular Season
The Rams will look to end the 2023 regular season on a high note as Mobile is scheduled for three-straight home matches ahead of the postseason. Next up on the calendar, the Rams will host conference rival William Carey at the Gerald Wallace Tennis Center for a 1:00 p.m. CT match on Wednesday, Apr. 5.
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.
