GEORGETOWN, TX (10.01.19) - Doubles tandem Haydn Steffes and Ashwin Vaithianathan highlighted the UT Dallas men's tennis team's appearance at the ITA Regional over the weekend as the duo advanced to the semifinals in the event hosted by Southwestern University.

Steffes and Vaithianathan entered the 32-team doubles draw seeded between Nos. 5-8 and did not disappoint as the twosome picked up three wins before making their exit in the round of four. The Comet pair opened play with an 8-4 win over Trinity's Brett Finan/Cal Hunter and then dispatched Desmond O'Shea/Josh Lopez of Hardin-Simmons, 8-6, in the second round. The Comets then upended No. 3-seeded Alex Joseph/Dean Dulthummon of host Southwestern, 8-7, in the quarterfinals. The duo's run came to an end in the semifinals after an 8-3 loss to McMurry's Carlos Martinez/Chase Daniell. Martinez/Daniell went on to win the doubles draw.

In other doubles action, the twosome of Giovanni Zamboni and Mythreyan Ganesh earned a first-round 8-7 win over St. Thomas' Juanrodrigo Lopez/Michael Hopkins, before falling in the second round to Calum Robe/Andres Padilla of Austin College, 8-6.

In singles play, two Comets advanced to the round of 16 before closing play. Steffes picked up two straight-set victories in the 64-play draw before falling to top-seeded Jordan Pitts of Trinity, in three sets, in the third round. After a straight-set opening round win, Ritvik Ganesan upset No. 3-seededd Josh Bode of Concordia Texas, in three sets in the round of 32. Ganesan fell to Trinity's Wilson Hamilton in the third round. Vaithianathan and Brandon Giordanelli also picked up first round wins.

Ganesh dropped his opening round match in the singles draw, but battled through the consolation bracket before withdrawing from the play-back finals.

The Comets will close the fall season Oct. 11-12 at the Collin College Open.

SINGLES
 
Haydn Steffes
Round of 64 – def. Hemanshu Rambojun (Southwestern), 7-5, 6-1
Round of 32 – def. #9-16 Robin van Der Heiden (Concordia Texas), 7-6 (5), 6-3
Round of 16 – lost to #1 Jordan Pitts (Trinity), 6-3, 2-6, 2-6
 
Ashwin Vaithianathan
Round of 64 – lost to Cal Hunter (Trinity), 6-7 (5), 1-6
Consolation Round of 32 – def. Schmidt, 0-6, 6-0, 10-7
Consolation Round of 16 – lost to Pena, 6-3, 3-4 (retired)
 
Mythreyan Ganesh
Round of 64 – lost to Brett O'Brien (Austin College), 3-6, 2-6
Consolation Round of 32 – def. Talley, 6-1, 6-2
Consolation Round of 16 – def. Henson, 6-2, 6-2
Consolation Quarterfinals – def. Pena, 5-7, 7-5, 10-8
Consolation Semifinals – def. Lopez, 1-6, 6-4, 10-2
Consolation Finals – lost to Settles (withdrawal)
 
#9-16 Giovanni Zamboni
Round of 64 – lost to Brett Finan (Trinity), 4-6, 6-1, 8-10
 
Brandon Giordanelli
Round of 64 – def. Gabe Benetiz (Howard Payne), 6-1, 6-1
Round of 62 – lost to Dean Dulthummon (Southwestern), 3-6, 4-6
 
Ritvik Ganesan
Round of 64 – def. Andres Padilla (Austin College), 6-4, 6-1
Round of 32 – def. #3 Josh Bode (Concordia Texas), 2-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7
Round of 16 – lost to #9-16 Wilson Hamilton (Trinity), 0-6, 2-6
 
DOUBLES
 
Giovanni Zamboni/Mythreyan Ganesh
Round of 32 – def. Juanrodrigo Lopez/Michael Hopkins (St. Thomas), 8-7
Round of 16 – lost to Calum Robe/Andres Padilla (Austin College), 6-8
 
#5-8 Haydn Steffes/Ashwin Vaithianathan
Round of 32 – def. Brett Finan/Cal Hunter (Trinity), 8-4
Round of 16 – def. Desmond O'Shea/Josh Lopez (Hardin-Simmons), 8-6
Quarterfinals – def. #3 Alex Joseph/Dean Dulthummon (Southwestern), 8-7
Semifinals – lost to #5-8 Carlos Martinez/Chase Daniell (McMurry), 8-3
 
Brandon Giordanelli/Ritvik Ganesan
Round of 32 – lost to #5-8 Carlos Martinez/Chase Daniell (McMurry), 8-5