BRONCS FALL TO AIR FORCE, 5-2

EDINBURG, TX-A few points spelled the difference between victory and defeat for The University of Texas-Pan American men's tennis team in their match at Air Force Friday.

The Broncs lost two doubles matches in tiebreakers, lost the doubles point, then lost at number two singles in a supertiebreaker and fell to the host Falcons, 5-2, at the Cadet Gymnasium Indoor Tennis Courts.

Freshman Oliver Steil (Brunssum, The Netherlands/AF International School) and senior Neil Barraclough (Coventry, England/Cardinal Newman HS/Seward County CC) lost to Justin Mancinelli and Shannon Buck at number two doubles, 9-8, while at number three, senior Matt Gower (Somerset, England/Kings of Wessex HS/St. Francis-PA) and freshman Nik Porter (Tunbridge Wells, England/Bennett Memorial School) lost to Tyler West and Martin Black, 9-8. Sophomore Filip Koziell (Calgary, AB/Bishop Carroll HS) lost Eric Pittman at number two doubles, 6-1, 4-6, (10-7).

Steil and Porter won their singles matches. Steil defeated Black at number five singles, 2-6, 6-1, (10-6), while Porter downed West at number six, 6-3, 6-4.

"Losing the doubles point really hurt us," said UTPA Head Coach Todd Chapman. "After coming so close in doubles and not being successful, we were flat at the start of the singles, and it hurt us. We didn't have enough energy and emotion at the start of the singles, when we needed it. Oliver, Nik and Filip played well in their singles matches."

The Broncs fell to 4-4 with the defeat, while Air Force improved to 12-1. The Broncs will face Idaho State and Boston University Saturday.

MT-AIRFORCE-030703

AIR FORCE 5, TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 2-MEN

DOUBLES

1-Eric Pittman and Tyler McClung, Air Force, defeated Filip Koziell and Jeremy Salvo, 8-5
2-Justin Mancinelli and Shannon Buck, Air Force, defeated Oliver Steil and Neil Barraclough, 9-8
3-Tyler West and Martin Black, Air Force, defeated Matt Gower and Nik Porter, 9-8

SINGLES

1-Buck, Air Force, defeated Tom Mangelschots, 6-0, 6-1
2-Pittman, Air Force, defeated Koziell, 6-1, 4-6, (10-7)
3-McClung, Air Force, defeated Gower, 6-2, 6-2
4-Mancinelli, Air Force defeated Salvo, 6-1, 6-0
5-Steil, UTPA, defeated Black, 2-6, 6-1, (10-6)
6-Porter, UTPA, defeated West, 6-3, 6-4