By Riley Vance—

Men’s tennis (9-10, 3-7 ACC) fell 4-3 in a close match against No. 34 Virginia Tech (11-7, 6-5 ACC) this Friday at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

The Cards took the doubles point with wins on courts one and three.

Junior Alex Wesbrooks and freshman Kyle Tang swept Ryan Kros and Matthis Ross (VT) 6-0 on court three.

Following shortly after, No. 63 sophomore Matthew Fung and junior Fabien Salle faced No. 25 Ryan Fishback and Jordan Chrysostom (VT) 6-3 to clinch the doubles point.

Senior Tin Chen and junior Sergio Hernandez were tied 4-4 with Virginia Tech’s Mitch Harper and Alex Ribeiro, but their match was left unfinished.

The Cards took their winning momentum into singles as Salle defeated Ross (VT) 6-3, 6-3 to give Louisville a 2-0 lead.

Virginia Tech fought back with a win on court one as Harper (VT) defeated Chen in a third set (6-1, 2-6 6-4)

The Hokies evened the score as Hugo Maia (VT) secured a 6-3, 4-6 6-3 win over junior Josh Howard-Tripp.

No. 71 Hernandez put the Cards back in the lead with a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 (7-4) win over No. 78 Carlo Donato (VT).

Virginia Tech brought the score to 3-3 as Alvaro Ariza (VT) prevailed 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 over junior David Mizrahi.

The match was decided on court five when Virginia Tech’s Fishback overcame Fung in a third set (6-3, 4-6 6-3).

Men’s tennis will host Virginia for their Senior Day on Sunday, April 18 at 1 p.m. at the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center.

Final Scores:

 Singles

  1. Mitch Harper (VT) def. Tin Chen (LOU) 6-1, 2-6 6-4
  2. #57 Fabien Salle (LOU) def. Matthis Ross (VT) 6-3, 6-3
  3. #71 Sergio Hernandez (LOU) def. #78 Carlo Donato (VT) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 (7-4)
  4. Hugo Maia (VT) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (LOU) 6-3, 4-6 6-3
  5. Ryan Fishback (VT) def. Matthew Fung (LOU) 6-3, 3-6 6-4
  6. Alvaro Ariza (VT) def. David Mizrahi (LOU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5

Order of Finish: 2, 1, 4, 3, 6 and  5

Doubles

  1. #63 Matthew Fung/Fabien Salle (LOU) def. #25 Ryan Fishback/Jordan Chrysostom (VT) 6-3
  2. #89 Tin Chen/Sergio Hernandez (LOU) vs. Mitch Harper/Alex Ribeiro (VT) 4-4, unfinished
  3. Kyle Tang/Alex Wesbrooks (LOU) def. Ryan Kros/Matthis Ross (VT) 6-0

Order of Finish: 3, 1

Photo Courtesy of Adam Creech// U of L Athletics