MTEN | SMC Drops Second In Southern California
4/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Despite showing a bit of improvement from the day before, the Saint Mary's men's tennis team couldn't do enough to pull out a win, dropping a 5-2 decision to Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles.
Saint Mary's is now 9-12 overall and 3-4 in West Coast Conference play. Loyola Marymount improves to 4-17 overall and 2-5 in conference.
One day after being swept by Pepperdine, the Gaels made a few lineup changes in search of a spark.
Loyola Marymount claimed the first point of the day, earning a tough victory at No. 1 doubles to clinch the point. Saint Mary's did get a win of its own in the process, with James Markiewicz joining the lineup to team with Tuomas Manner and win 9-8 over Jack Zapala and Daniel Simko at No. 3.
The Gaels shifted their singles lineup around as well, moving Manner to No. 1, Jesse Kiuru to No. 2 and Joakim Norstrom to No. 3.
The move resulted in wins at No. 2 and 3, as Kiuru and Norstrom each played well on Saturday. Kiuru, ranked No. 100 in the country, scored a 7-6, 7-5 win over Todd Volmari for SMC's first point of the day.
Norstrom had to fight even harder for his point, taking a hard-fought 6-7, 6-4, 10-5 victory over Sebastian Bustamante.
Unfortunately for Saint Mary's, those wins came after Loyola Marymount had already clinched the match. Wins at No. 5, 4, 1 and 6 gave the Lions the victory.
The Gaels close the WCC regular season next Friday at San Diego.
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