For Immediate Release: Saturday, March 22, 2003
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS DEFEAT CARDINALS, STEIL EXTENDS WIN STREAK

EDINBURG, TX—Freshman Oliver Steil (Brunssum, The Neatherlands/AF North International School) won his ninth consecutive singles match to help lift the University of Texas-Pan American men’s tennis team to a 5-2 win over visiting Lamar University, Saturday at the Cox Tennis Center.  With the win, Texas-Pan American improved to 8-4 and 1-1 in the Southland Conference, while the Cardinals fell to 7-8 and 0-3 in the Southland Conference.

The win was Texas-Pan American’s fifth consecutive victory since a 5-2 loss to Air Force March 7th.

Lamar earned the doubles point by winning two of the three doubles matches.  Senior Matt Gower (Somerset, England/Kings of Wessex HS/St. Francis) and freshman Nik Porter (Tunbridge Wells, England/Bennett Memorial School) defeated Naeem Kath and Juan Pablo Alatorre at number two doubles.

“Doubles has been our Achilles heel,” sad UTPA Head Coach Todd Chapman.  “We got caught in some close matches, and we didn’t make the shots we needed.”

Nik Porter defeated Christian Olivier at number five singles to clinch the win for the Broncs.  The win was Porter’s sixth consecutive singles victory.  UT Pan American won five of the six singles matches.

“We played well in singles,” said Chapman.  “We played well, and won five matches in straight sets.  This is our fifth win in a row, so hopefully we can continue our momentum at Arlington after a good week of practice.”

The Texas-Pan American tennis teams will return to action next Saturday, when they play Oral Roberts in Arlington, Texas.

-UTPA Tennis-

UTPA 5, Lamar 2

Doubles

1.             Jakob Paulsen/John Guerrero (LU) def. Filip Koziell/Jeremy Salvo (UTPA) 8-6
2.             Matt Gower/Nik Porter (UTPA) def. Naeem Kath/Juan Pablo Alatorre (LU) 8-4
3.             Thatcher Cribbs/Christian Olivier (LU) def. Oliver Steil/D.J. Zhanel (UTPA)  8-6

Singles

1.             Paulsen (LU) def. Mangelschots (UTPA) 6-1, 6-0
2.             Koziell (UTPA) def. Kath (LU) 6-3, 6-2
3.             Gower (UTPA) def. Guerrero (LU) 6-4, 6-2
4.             Salvo (UTPA) def. Alatorre (LU) 6-1, 6-2
5.             Steil (UTPA) def. Olivier (LU) 6-4, 6-2
6.             Porter (UTPA) def. Cribbs LU) 6-2, 6-3