ABILENE, Texas – Another weekend and another victory for the University of St. Thomas men's tennis team as the Celts split a Saturday trip to Abilene.

The Celts opened the day with a 6-3 loss at perennial American Southwest Conference power Hardin-Simmons before heading across town where they defeated McMurry 6-3.

With the weekend split, the Celts improved to 3-2 in their inaugural season.

The Celts return to action Saturday, Feb. 29, when they host Mary Hardin-Baylor. First serves are scheduled for 11 a.m.

St. Thomas 6, McMurry 3

The Celts finished the day with an emphatic win over the host Warhawks in the afternoon. UST won two-thirds of the singles and doubles competitions en route to the victory.

The match started with Race Haas and Jace Ware teaming up in flight two to defeat McMurry's Zach Miller and Brynson Harmon 8-4. Shortly thereafter, the Celts took a 2-0 lead in the match when Juanrodrigo Lopez and Quashi Philips won their flight one competition 8-6 over McMurry's Carlos Martinez and Chase Daniell.

Haas (flight two), Philips (flight four), and Ware (flight five) also won their singles matches, along with teammate Michael Hopkins in flight three. Haas needed to come back after dropping set one to Daniell 6-3; he triumphed 6-4 in each of the next two sets.

Ware also fell behind a set to Joseph Diaz as Ware ultimately prevailed 3-6, 7-5, and 10-6 in a pro-set third set. Ware's victory was the sixth point of the match.

It was Philips' 6-1, 7-5 win over Reid Smith that gave the Celts the team victory, as his was the fifth UST win.

Singles

1. Carlos Martinez (MCM) def. Juanrodrigo Lopez (UST) 6-3, 7-6 (5-0)

2. Race Haas (UST) def. Chase Daniell (MCM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

3. Michael Hopkins (UST) def. Zach Miller (MCM) 6-1, 6-2

4. Quashi Philips (UST) def. Reid Smith (MCM) 6-1, 7-5

5. Jace Ware (UST) def. Joseph Diaz (MCM) 3-6, 7-5, 10-6

6. Trey Fambrough (MCM) def. Carson Steele (UST) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles

1. Juanrodrigo Lopez/Quashi Philips (UST) def. Carlos Martinez/Chase Daniell (MCM) 8-6

2. Race Haas/Jace Ware (UST) def. Zach Miller/Brynson Harmon (MCM) 8-4

3. Joseph Diaz/Reid Smith (MCM) def. Michael Hopkins/Carson Steele (UST) 8-5

Hardin-Simmons 6, St. Thomas 3

The morning match saw the Celts fight hard before falling 6-3 at Hardin-Simmons. Lopez and Philips won a back-and-forth match over Holt Fields and Nathaniel Schoendorf in flight one, as the UST duo prevailed 8-7 (7-4).

UST's two singles points went to Hopkins (flight three) and Ware (flight five). Hopkins narrowly edged Josh Lopez 7-6 (7-5), 0-6, 6-3, while Ware swept Keenan Nash 6-4, 6-1.

Singles

1. Nathaniel Schoendorf (HSU) def. Juanrodrigo Lopez (UST) 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3

2. Holt Fields (HSU) def. Race Haas (UST) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

3. Michael Hopkins (UST) def. Josh Lopez (HSU) 7-6 (7-5), 0-6, 6-3

4. Desmond O'Shea (HSU) def. Quashi Philips (UST) 6-2, 6-0

5. Jace Ware (UST) def. Keenan Nash (HSU) 6-4, 6-1

6. Davyn Williford (HSU) def. Dorian Cudina (UST) 6-2, 7-5

Doubles

1. Juanrodrigo Lopez/Quashi Philips (UST) def. Holt Fields/Nathaniel Schoendorf (HSU) 8-7 (7-4)

2. Josh Lopez/Desmond O'Shea (HSU) def. Race Haas/Jace Ware (UST) 8-1

3. Davyn Williford/Dia Ndumbe (HSU) def. Dorian Cudina/Tyler Head (UST) 8-5