For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 15, 2003
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS RALLY PAST ISLANDERS

EDINBURG, TX-Junior Tom Mangelschots (Limburg, Belgium/KA 2 HS) won the deciding match at number two singles to rally The University of Texas-Pan American tennis men's team from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 4-3, Saturday at the Cox Tennis Center. With the win, Texas-Pan American improved to 4-2, while TAMU-CC fell to 1-5.

"I knew it would be tough to win four matches against a tough team like Texas A&M-Corpus Christi," said Head Coach Todd Chapman. "They have played three of the top 25 teams in the country."

Mangelschots dropped the first set, 6-2, before rallying to win the next two sets, 6-4, 6-3. The Islanders led, 3-0, before UTPA picked up wins at four, five, and six singles to set up the deciding match at number two.

"We were in trouble at one and three singles," said Chapman. "But I had confidence that Tom could come back after losing the first set. I never doubted that he would win."

The Islanders picked up 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) picked up a win for the Broncs at number three doubles, defeating the duo of Loren Collins and Eusebie Oprea, 8-3.

"We lost, 4-3, to them last year," said Chapman. "We came out to play, and played hard and with heart today. Whoever wanted it more would win, because both teams were evenly matched. This is a big confidence booster for us."

The Broncs will return to action next Sunday, when they play Southeastern Louisiana in San Antonio.

UTPA 4 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3

Doubles

1. Christopher Bergues/Oscar Roman (TAMU-CC) def. Filip Koziell/Jeremy Salvo (UTPA) 8-5
2. Goncalo Figueiredo/Luis Moris (TAMU-CC) def. Tom Mangelschots/Oliver Steil (UTPA) 8-3
3. Matt Gower/Nik Porter (UTPA) def. Loren Collins/Eusebie Oprea (TAMU-CC) 8-3

Singles
1. Bergues (TAMU-CC) def. Koziell (UTPA) 6-2, 6-0
2. Mangelschots (UTPA) def. Moris (TAMU-CC) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
3. Figueiredo (TAMU-CC) def. Gower (UTPA) 6-0, 6-2
4. Salvo (UTPA) def. Shahzeb Niazi (TAMU-CC) 7-6 (5), 6-4
5. Steil (UTPA) def. David Plasencia (TAMU-CC) 6-4, 6-1
6. Porter (UTPA) def. Collins (TAMU-CC) 6-4, 6-4