Men’s Tennis Opens Fall Season at Aggie Invitational

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Freshman Kevin Taylor won his singles debut and teamed with fellow freshman Patrick Schimmelbauer for a doubles victory to highlight NAU play on the opening day of the Aggie Invitational in Las Cruces. The season-opening tournament, with opposition from host New Mexico State, Arizona, Abilene Christian and Western New Mexico, continues through Sunday.

Taylor, a freshman from Victoria, British Columbia, cruised past Francisco Damasio of Western New Mexico, 6-0, 6-0, for his first collegiate victory. Also winning in singles were sophomore transfer Josh Brown, who rallied to beat Western New Mexico’s Craig Duran, and sophomore Robin Pezzuto in a 7-5, 6-4 win over Abilene Christian’s Brett Proctor.

In doubles play, Taylor and Schimmelbauer dominated Damasio and teammate Francisco Periera for an 8-0 victory. Also playing together for the first time were Brown and sophomore Andrew Reiff, who battled past New Mexico State’s Matej Stakne and Armando Morales for an 8-5 victory.

Round-two doubles matches began as well on Friday, with NAU dropping one match while the other three were postponed until Saturday morning due to approaching storms.

"There was a bottom line out here today - we did not play up to the level we expected even though we had some very tough first-round matchups,” said head coach Kim Bruno. “We were 5-8 on the day and could have, and should have, been 8-5, which would have made me much happier. We are quickly finding out what we need to focus on."

All eight Northern Arizona players in Las Cruces will be in action again Saturday, with play scheduled to resume at 9 a.m.


Northern Arizona Results

Singles
Josh Brown (NAU) def. Craig Duran (NMSU), 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
Kevin Taylor (NAU) def. Francisco Damaiso (WNMU), 6-0, 6-0
Robin Pezzuto (NAU) def. Brett Proctor (ACU), 7-5, 6-4
Scott Keaton (NMSU) def. Andres Perez (NAU), 6-3, 6-2
Kim Brouleau (NMSU) def. Hugo Ramadier (NAU), 6-3, 6-2
Matej Stakne (NMSU) def. David Flodberg (NAU), 7-6, 6-1
Bryan Joiner (ACU) def. Andrew Reiff (NAU), 6-2, 1-6, 7-6
Jason Zafiros (UA) def. Patrick Schimmelbauer (NAU), 6-2, 6-3

Doubles
Brouleau/Surreaux (NMSU) def. Pezzuto/Ramadier (NAU), 8-3
Salazar/VanSpeybrock (WNMU) def Pezzutto/Ramadier (NAU), 9-7
Schimmelbauer/Taylor (NAU) def. Damasio/Periera (WNMU), 8-0
Brown/Reiff (NAU) def. Morales/Stakne (NMSU), 8-5
Embry/Zafiros (UA) def. Flodberg/Perez (NAU), 8-0