For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

BRONCS HEAD FOR SLC TOURNAMENT

EDINBURG, TX-For the second time in three weeks, The University of Texas-Pan American men's tennis team has done something it had not done for 12 years.

This weekend, the Broncs will try to do something they've never done as they attempt to win the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time ever. Top-seeded Texas-Arlington will host the tournament at their tennis center.

Texas-Pan American is ranked 73rd nationally this week. The Broncs were ranked 72nd two weeks ago, and that was the first time they were nationally ranked since the 1991 season.

"It's great to achieve something in two out of three weeks that hadn't been done in 12 years," said UTPA Head Coach Todd Chapman. "The end of the year ranking is the most important one, and, hopefully, we can solidify ourselves as a top 75 team in the future. "

The Broncs will take a 12-7 record into this weekend's tournament, after tying for second, their best finish ever in the SLC with a 3-2 conference mark. However, the three-way tie between UTPA, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas-San Antonio was broken by head-to-head scores. As a result, UTSA was seeded second, SLU was seeded third, and the Broncs were seeded fourth.

Texas-Pan American plays fifth-seeded Lamar in the first round of the tournament Friday morning, while SLU plays sixth-seeded Centenary Friday afternoon. The winner of the match between the Broncs and Cardinals plays top-seeded Texas-Arlington Saturday, while UTSA plays the winner of the other match. Saturday's winners meet Sunday for the tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Championships, which begin May 10th and 11th.

"Our main goal this weekend is to win and get the automatic bid to the NCAAs, and this is what we've prepared for all year," said Chapman. "The hottest team could win it. We're excited because we have a chance to win, but we know we have our work cut out for us."

Lamar is 8-11, 1-4 in SLC play, and even though the Broncs defeated them, 5-2, at the Cox Tennis Center March 22nd, Chapman expects a tough match. "Last year, we beat them twice during the season, and at the conference tournament, they almost upset us," said Chapman. "We have to remember to take it one match at a time, because every match is potentially the last match of the year. We have to play with a sense of urgency, and, if we do, we should be successful."

The Broncs haven't played since defeating UTSA April 12th, and Chapman does not mind the fact that his team plays a first-round match. "With the break we had, it had two weeks off, got a bye and then had to play a semi-final match right away, it might not be a good situation," said Chapman. "With two weeks of rest, playing three matches in three days shouldn't be an issue."

Since doubles are played first, the team winning two or three doubles match earns the doubles point, and Chapman says that will be vital in all of this weekend's matches.

"The doubles point is going to be crucial," said Chapman. "When you have teams that are evenly matched, the doubles point and the momentum gained by whoever wins the doubles will be huge. We're playing the best doubles we've played all year, and, hopefully, we'll continue to play well. The team that is the most consistent will win the tournament."

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