The OUAZ Men's Tennis team faced a demanding three-match stretch this past week, competing in matches on consecutive days against Western New Mexico, Bethel (Kan.), and Colorado Mesa. Despite strong individual efforts and several tightly contested singles matches, the Spirit finished the week 0–3 and now sit at 1–9 overall on the season.
Western New Mexico 6, OUAZ 1 (Feb. 19)
The week opened against Western New Mexico, where the Mustangs claimed the doubles point with wins on all three courts. OUAZ's closest doubles contest came at No. 3, where Maximiliano López-Gonzalez and Albin By battled before falling 6–4, while the No. 1 pairing of Filip Novacek and Arvid Lindblad and the No. 2 team of Fabian Wetter and Kasper Olofsson each dropped 6–3 decisions.
In singles play, the Spirit earned their lone team point in dramatic fashion at No. 2 singles, where Filip Novacek delivered a clutch three-set victory over Jack Semper. After splitting the first two sets 7–5 and 5–7, Novacek controlled the deciding super tiebreak to win 10–8 and secure OUAZ's point.
Arvid Lindblad competed strongly at the top spot before falling 6–4, 6–4 at No. 1 singles, while Boston McFarland pushed his No. 5 singles match to three sets after taking the opener 6–3 but ultimately fell 3–6, 4–6 in the final two sets. Western New Mexico claimed the remaining singles courts in straight sets to seal the 6–1 result.
Bethel (Kan.) 6, OUAZ 1 (Feb. 20)
OUAZ returned to the courts the next morning against Bethel in another challenging matchup. Bethel again secured the doubles point, highlighted by a narrow 7–6 win at No. 1 doubles over Lindblad and Novacek in the tightest doubles match of the morning.
The Spirit's highlight came at No. 1 singles, where Arvid Lindblad fought through a three-set battle against Jorge Batista. After dropping the opening set 6–3, Lindblad answered with a 6–3 second-set win before taking control of the super tiebreak to claim the match 10–8, earning OUAZ its lone point of the dual.
Several other courts featured competitive opening sets, including Novacek at No. 2 (7–5 first set) and Max López-Gonzalez at No. 6 (7–6 first set), but Bethel ultimately secured the remaining singles matches in straight sets to finish off the team victory.
Colorado Mesa 4, OUAZ 1 (Feb. 20)
OUAZ closed the busy day with its strongest doubles performance of the week against Colorado Mesa at the Surprise Tennis Center. The Spirit swept the doubles competition to claim the opening point, as Lindblad and Novacek earned a convincing 6–2 win at No. 1, while Boston McFarland and Albin By added a 6–4 victory at No. 3. The doubles success gave OUAZ early momentum heading into singles.
In singles, however, Colorado Mesa responded by winning five completed courts in straight sets. Kasper Olofsson (No. 3), McFarland (No. 4), López-Gonzalez (No. 5), and By (No. 6) each battled but fell in two sets as the Mavericks secured the team win. The top two singles matches featuring Lindblad and Novacek were halted unfinished once the team result was decided.
Looking Ahead
After a packed week of competition, the Spirit will look to regroup and build on the positive doubles momentum and strong three-set singles performances moving forward.
OUAZ returns to action Tuesday, February 24, when the Spirit host UC Riverside in a home matchup scheduled for 3:00 PM.
