For Immediate Release: March 21, 2002
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations (956) 381-2240

BRONCS FALL TO ARKANSAS

SAN ANTONIO, TX-The 30^th-ranked team in the nation was a bit too strong for The University of Texas-Pan American men’s tennis team Thursday.

The Broncs fell to Arkansas, 4-0, at Texas-San Antonio Tennis Center.

The Razorbacks won two doubles matches, and third was halted when UA clinched the doubles point. Arkansas then won three singles matches, and the match was stopped due to time constraints.

Junior Matt Gower (Somerset, England/Kings of Wessex HS/St. Francis-PA) and senior Kareem Abdullah (Clarendon, TX/Clarendon HS/Seward County CC) lost to Oggie Kolev and Tiago Azevedo at number two doubles, 8-4. At number three, Nathan Price and Kris Ivarsson of the Razorbacks defeated sophomore Tom Mangleschots (Limburg, Belgium/KA 2 HS) and junior Neil Barraclough (Coventry, England/Cardinal Newman HS/Seward County CC), 8-5. UTPA’s number one doubles team of freshman Filip Koziell (Calgary, AB/Bishop Carroll HS) and freshman Jeremy Salvo (Coquitlam, BC/Centennial Secondary) were tied with Buvis and Eddie Pacheco at 6-all when the match was stopped. UA then won in straight sets at the lower three positions in singles, clinching the decision.

 “We played pretty well in doubles,” said UTPA Head Coach Todd Chapman. “We had our chances in each of the doubles matches, and we would have liked to finish the number one doubles match, but we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities. We got off to a slow start in singles, and when you got off to a slow start against a good team, the match will be over quickly, and that’s what happened. We did play some good tennis, and, hopefully, that will carry over to our next match.”

The Broncs fell to 6-6 with the defeat, while Arkansas improved to 10-5. UTPA will host St. Mary’s (TX) Friday at 5:00 p.m.

                                                                         RESULTS
DOUBLES

2-Oggie Kolev and Tiago Azevedo, Arkansas, defeated Matt Gower and Kareem Abdullah, 8-4
3-Nathan Price and Kris Ivarsson, Arkansas, defeated Tom Mangleschots and Neil Barraclough, 8-5


SINGLES

4-Aleksey Buvis, Arkansas, defeated Jeremy Salvo, 6-0, 6-4
5-Kris Ivarsson, Arkansas, defeated Kareem Abdullah, 6-2, 6-1
6-Tiago Azevedo, Arkansas, defeated Neil Barraclough, 6-2, 6-0
                                                                     
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