No. 8 MT Falls to SMU, Beats ACU in Tuesday Doubleheader

Tuesday, March 10

Waco, Texas

12 p.m.

Baylor

SMU

No. 8 MT Falls to SMU, Beats ACU in Tuesday Doubleheader

3/10/2026 10:28:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Bears couldn’t get it done versus SMU but got back on track against the Wildcats of ACU

WACO, Texas – No. 8 Baylor men's tennis split its Tuesday doubleheader in Waco, falling to No. 36 SMU, 4-2, before rebounding with a 4-0 sweep of Abilene Christian at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center.
The Bears (10-6) battled throughout the opening match against SMU, picking up singles victories from Connor Van Schalkwyk and Zsombor Velcz, but the Mustangs secured three late singles wins to clinch the dual. Baylor responded in the nightcap against ACU, controlling the match from the start by taking the doubles point and winning three straight completed singles matches to secure the shutout.
Louis Bowden, Alexandru Chirita and Velcz each earned singles victories in the win over the Wildcats, helping Baylor close out the day with momentum after the tight contest against SMU.
THE RUNDOWN
MATCH ONE VERSUS SMU
Starting in doubles, Chirita and Velcz fell to SMU on Court One, 6-1. Blake Anderson and Devin Badenhorst responded with a gritty 6-3 win on Court Three. Luc Koenig and Connor Van Schalkwyk came up just short on Court Two, dropping a tight 7-6(3) decision. With wins on Courts One and Two, SMU claimed the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead.

In singles, BU started strong. Van Schalkwyk dominated on Court Three, securing a 6-0, 6-3 win, tying the match up at 1-1. On Court Two, Velcz locked down a 6-1, 6-4 victory, giving Baylor a 2-1 lead. SMU responded on Court Five as Krish Arora defeated Koenig 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to even the match at 2-2.

The Mustangs then took the lead after Noah McDonald topped Bowden 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 on Court Six. The deciding point came on Court One where No. 2 Trevor Svajda edged No. 12 Badenhorst in a tightly contested three-set battle, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(8-6), clinching the match for SMU. Chirita's match on Court Four was left unfinished with the Mustangs securing the overall 4-2 victory.

MATCH TWO VERSUS ACU
Starting in doubles, Anderson and Badenhorst put Baylor on the board with a strong 6-2 win over former Bear Luis Jose Nakamine and Ethan Scribner on Court One. Van Schalkwyk and Arman Zamani followed with a 6-4 victory against Jorge Aza and Merse Deli on Court Two to secure the doubles point for the Bears. Drew Hedgecoe and Velcz fell on Court Three, 6-4, but Baylor took the early 1-0 lead.
In singles, Bowden extended Baylor's advantage with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win over Ethan Scribner on Court Six to make it 2-0. Chirita followed with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Merse Deli on Court Three, putting the Bears within one point of the win. Velcz sealed the match for Baylor with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Tomas Quesada on Court Two, giving the Bears the 4-0 victory.

HIGHLIGHTS
Defending Big 12 Player of the Week, Connor Van Schalkwyk, put on a show once again. Winning both of his singles matches in dominant fashion.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH MICHAEL WOODSON
Coach Woodson on his team's slow start:
"We didn't come out with the right energy in doubles against SMU, and that cost us a tough doubles point."

On what went well:
"I thought there were some bright spots. I thought some guys that, you know, haven't gotten as much time in the lineup, Arman, Drew, Cal, like it was good to see those guys get to play some, and you know, I thought did some good stuff in doubles, and then some guys did a really good job in singles."

Looking Forward:
"It's always good to finish the day with the win and well take that. Winning is hard, and we'll get ourselves ready to head to Indian Wells."

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor MT returns to action on Saturday, March 14^th in Indian Wells, California to face-off with Memphis in the UTR College Championship at 12 p.m. CT.

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