GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota men's tennis suffered its first conference loss of the season on Senior Day, dropping 5-2 on home turf to Omaha on Friday evening inside Choice Health & Fitness.
 
The result moves the Fighting Hawks to 13-7 overall and 2-1 in conference action so far this season while the Mavericks improve to 11-9 and 1-1 in the Summit League.
 
Following the evening's competition, North Dakota's long senior, Christos Alex, was recognized for his innumerable and emphatic contributions to the men's tennis program in his three years as a Fighting Hawk.  
 
After the visitors took a 6-0 win from the top court in doubles play, UND rallied back with the next two wins to clinch the early 1-0 lead. That came off a stifling 6-2 win from Justin Ilic and Kotaro Matsumura at the No. 2 court alongside a 6-3 win at the bottom position from Leo Galliano and Cole Wilber.
 
Galliano carried that momentum into singles competition as he cruised his way to a dominating 6-0, 6-4 win from the top spot to open up a 2-0 score. But from there, Omaha would sweep the remaining singles matches.
 
The Fighting Hawks fell in a 6-1, 6-1 match from the No. 6 court before dropping a tight-knit 6-4, 6-3 match at the No. 2 spot. A narrow 7-6 (5) first set loss was followed by another tight 6-4 second set loss at the third position which was simultaneously followed up by a three-set thriller that went in favor of the visitors at 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
 
Court No. 4 featured another three-set battle that again, narrowly, went to Mavericks at 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to solidify the 5-2 team score.
 
With the home slate of competition now wrapped up, the Fighting Hawks will return to action by hitting the road to take on Denver on Saturday, April 11 and Air Force on Sunday, April 12.
 
For more information on North Dakota men's tennis, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmtennis.