SAN ANTONIO — Southwestern men's tennis opened its fall season with a strong showing at the St. Mary's Invitational in the East draw stage against a quality field of competition. 

In a match between last year's Co-SCAC Men's Tennis Players of the Year, Hunter Bajoit bested Trinity University's Cameron Krimbill 6-3, 6-1 in the East semifinals after defeating Texas Lutheran's Matthew Stephenson's in the first round. However, Bajoit fell just short in the Finals, losing to Trinity's Hao Nguyen. 

"Hunter had a huge win over the Co-SCAC Player of the Year from last year," Southwestern head tennis coach Billy Porter says. "He lost a close one in the top flight final, but I would still label it as a solid tournament for him." 

The Pirates also welcomed back Hemanshu Rambojun after a year away. Rambojun went undefeated, winning Flight H singles with victories over Justin Alvarez (6-1, 6-0), Cal Hunter (5-7, 6-2, 10-6), and Cole Reed (6-0, 6-0). In doubles, his chemistry with Bajoit picked up right where it left off, winning the top flight. 

"Hemanshu had a great weekend going 6-0, winning both his Singles and Doubles flights," Porter says. "It's great to have him back after a year layoff." 

Carlos Esteban Rodero, Steven Tibbetts, Freshman Jared Burton, and Freshman Daniel Haley went 1-1 in Flights B, C, D, and F. Freshman Oscar Roy advanced to the finals of Flight E, losing to Eric Liao. Max Pearson also lost in his Flight G final. 

"Our freshman class of Jared, Daniel, and Oscar is a special one which was on full display this weekend," Porter says. 

In doubles, Esteban Rodero and Tibbetts lost in the Flight B final, Anton Borovik and Burton reached the semifinals in Flight C, and Roy and Haley lost in the Flight D final. 

Southwestern's men's tennis team will return to San Antonio Sept. 23-26 to compete in the ITA Regional Championships.