Peter Dindinger — NMMI Sports Press

ALBUQUERQUE — And then there was one.

After having his opening match forfeited, New Mexico Military Institute’s Jose Nadal advanced to the quarterfinal round of singles play in the Class A-4A state tournament Thursday morning at the Jerry Cline Tennis Center.

Nadal took on second-seeded Luciano Silveria out of Hope Christian.

It was a big task for Nadal.

In the opening set, Silveria used his dominant forehand to win 6-2.

The pendulum then swung over in favor of Nadal in the second set. Nadal put together some solid serves and started to take control as he evened up the match with a 6-2 victory.

Nadal and Silveria were deadlocked in a heated battle during the third set as the momentum shifted back and forth.

In the end, Silveria came out with the deciding 6-4 win to take the match.

Nadal, a junior, got a taste of the big stage. He feels more confident that he can return next year and advance even further.

“At first I was nervous. I lost 6-2 in the first set but then I got into my game,” Nadal said. “I’m going to keep trying and I think next year I can do it. Every first serve that I got in was pretty much my point.

“It was really nice feeling all the support of my teammates and my coaches.”

The competition is not entirely done for the Colt boys as they now enter team play as the second-seed, beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at the Sierra Vista West Tennis Complex.

NMMI received a first-round bye and will take on the winner of the No. 7 St. Michael's and No. 10 Chaparral duel.

Nadal gave it his all despite not competing in the first round.

“Jose really battled back. The kid that he was playing is a great player,” said NMMI head coach John Barbour. “I wish Jose would’ve had another match before him so that he could’ve gotten his legs underneath him.

“It’s a good experience and he already basically has said he’s going to come back and get the better end of it next year.”