Men's tennis team gets first win

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior doubles player Jean-Noel LaCoste slams the ball back to his Utah opponent during yesterday's tournament against the Utes. The match-up was the first win of the season for the UA men's tennis team.

The Wildcats defeated the Utes 6-1 to move to 1-3 on the season while the Utes fell to 2-1.

Arizona got off to a strong start by sweeping the three doubles matches. Senior Pascal Salasca and junior Jean-Noel LaCoste defeated Utah seniors Adam Eke and Ben Coates 9-7. Freshman Ashley Dyer and junior Trevor Ferguson of Utah were taken by senior Adnan Novo and sophomore Brian Jackson 8-4. The third win was by juniors Michel Stopa and Alex Brown against freshmen Patrick Wallebring and Nik Yip 8-3.

Eke said the Utes were a little jumbled because senior Philippe Rodriguez was not available for his spot in doubles.

"Everyone had to move up," he said. "The UA team played very well."

In singles Novo won on the first court against Coates 6-3, 6-4.

"I was practicing hard this past week and it paid off," Novo said. "I am playing good and feeling more comfortable."

Utah's Dyer got some measure of revenge, defeating LaCoste 6-1, 4-6, 7-6, while on the third court Salasca defeated Ferguson 6-3, 6-4.

"I played well, not as hard as I have in the past, but strong," Salasca said. "As long as you win, that's where the point is."

Ferguson said the change in altitude and weather made playing difficult.

"I could have done better, though," he said.

Stopa defeated Wallebring on the fourth court 6-2, 6-2.

"I played good percentage tennis, first serves in, nothing fancy. I just got the job done," Stopa said.

The final two matches of the day went to UA freshman Caleb Marquardt over Yip 6-1, 7-5 and Brown over junior Ryan Snow 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The Wildcats next go to Houston to play Pan American University Feb. 19 and Rice Feb. 20.

Katie Fonken can be reached at Katie.Fonken@wildcat.arizona.edu