Spring Break did not quite turn out the way the SMU men’s tennis team hoped that it would, as the Mustangs dropped both their matches over the break in Richmond, Va.
 

On Thursday, March 11, SMU took the court against No. 61 Virginia Commonwealth University. The event started off well, as all three doubles teams won their matches to sweep the doubles point.
 

However, in singles, it was all the Rams, as VCU took five of six matches to seal their victory.
Junior Darren Walsh won the only singles point for the Mustangs, defeating his opponent in two sets, 7-6 (2), 6-4. Walsh also teamed up with fellow junior Adham el-Effendi to win No. 2 doubles earlier in the event.
 

After a day of rest, the Mustangs hit the court again on March 13 to play No. 21 Virginia Tech. Walsh and el-Effendi, again won their doubles match, but the Hokies won the other two matches to claim the doubles point.
 

Junior Artem Baradach, who defeated No. 7 Dimitar Kutrovsky from Texas, returned to his winning ways with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 47 Yoann Re.
 

Baradach, who is ranked No. 99 in the nation, lost his match against VCU’s No. 52 Thibaut Charron.
 

Walsh continued to shine with another victory in the No. 4 singles position. He defeated his opponent, Patrick Daciek, in two sets, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
 

Now back from their trip to Virginia, the Mustangs will finish out the regular season at home in the Turpin Tennis Center.
 

Their next event will be a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 17 against Columbia University at 2  p.m. and Prairie View A&M at 6 p.m.