ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Northern Colorado’s men’s tennis team fought fierce winds and rain last weekend at the Lobo Balloon Fiesta Classic -- the team’s second fall event that included Air Force, Boise State, Glendale Community College, New Mexico, New Mexico Military, Northern Arizona, Santa Fe College and Western New Mexico.

The Bears’ No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Adam Perez and freshman Calix Van Lier had a strong showing, making it all the way to the finals of the main doubles draw.

Perez and Van Lier started out with two decisive 8-3 victories over NMMI’s Daneric Hazelman and Justin Romero and Northern Arizona’s Gaston Bottale and David Flodberg.

Then, in a semifinal matchup against New Mexico’s Phil Anderson and Carl Ho, the Bears squeaked out a close 9-7 win to make it an all-Big Sky Conference final against Northern Arizona’s Andrew Reiff and Robin Pezzutto.

But despite their best efforts, Perez and Van Lier fell 8-4 to the Lumberjacks’ top team.

Perez and Van Lier will now compete from Wednesday to Sunday, Oct. 15 to 19, in the fall ITA Mountain Regionals in Las Vegas.

“To make the finals of the doubles shows us what we are capable of as a team,” Northern Colorado assistant coach Steve Williams said. “This group is still young, and we are enjoying the journey right now. We have a lot of unfinished business to do on the court.”

In singles action, Perez and Van Lier each had success in the “A” singles bracket.

Perez posted a convincing 6-3, 6-0 victory over GCC’s George Laura before losing to Boise State’s Stanley Sarapanich 6-0, 6-4.

And after receiving a first-round bye, Van Lier lost a hard-fought match against New Mexico’s Phil Anderson 6-3, 7-5. Van Lier then advanced in the consolation bracket with wins over NAU’s Jaco Visagie (8-4) and UNM’s Chandler Brass (8-2).

Junior Andy Green and freshman Mike Kingsley also posted singles wins in the “B” bracket.

After being ousted by NAU’s Gaston Bottale 6-1, 6-0, Kingsley rebounded with a 7-6, 6-1 victory over WNMU’s Devin Stroman.

And in his first match of the day, Green lost a tight 6-3, 6-4 loss to AFA’s Stu Coston.
Later, facing Stephen Elliot, a former GCC teammate, Green received a 6-3, 6-3 victory.

“I am very pleased with our performance this past weekend,” Northern Colorado coach Brenda Vlasak said. “The energy and team support was the best I have experienced since being head coach. We have proven we can play with any team. I look forward to the upcoming season.”

NEW MEXICO LOBO BALLOON FIESTA RESULTS

Men’s “A” Bracket singles
Adam Perez
def. George Laura (GCC) 6-3, 6-0
loss Stanley Sarapanich (BSU) 6-0, 6-4
loss Chris Arena 6-1, 7-5
def. Mike Gies (AFA) 8-6

Calix Van Lier
loss Phil Anderson (UNM) 6-3, 7-5
def. Jaco Visagie (NAU) 8-4
def. Chandler Brass 8-2

Men’s “B” Bracket singles
Andy Green
loss Stu Coston (AFA) 6-3, 6-4
def. Stephen Elliot (GCC) 6-3, 6-3
loss Daneric Hazelman (NMMI) 6-3, 6-3

Mike Kingsley
loss Gaston Bottale (NAU) 6-1, 6-0
def. Devin Stroman (WNMU) 7-6, 6-1
loss Kyle Epperson (AFA) 8-6

Andre Lepine
loss Roman Salazar (WNMU) 6-2, 6-2
loss Kyle Epperson (AFA) 6-3, 6-2

Men’s doubles
Perez/Van Lier
def. Daneric Hazelman/Justin Romero (NMMI) 8-3
def. Bottale/David Flodberg (NAU) 8-3
def. Phil Anderson/Carl Ho (UNM) 9-7
loss Andrew Reiff/Robin Pezzutto (NAU) 8-4

Green/Lepine
loss Drew Archer/Matt Neeld (UNM) 8-0
loss Marek Ondruj/Teddy Yelley (NMMI) 8-1
def. Joseph Garcia/Matt Tremblay (GCC) 8-2
loss Luke Salazar/Roman Salazar (WNMU) 9-8

Kingsley/Joseph Garcia(GCC)
loss Wilton Atkins/Kyle Lynch (WNMU) 8-1
loss Stanley Sarapanich/Freddy Walsh (BSU) 8-0