BRONCS SWEEP XAVIER, DAYTON
For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 8, 2004
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director

RICHMOND, KY-The University of Texas-Pan American's men's tennis team improved their winning streak to four, defeating Xavier, 5-2, and Dayton, 6-1 at Eastern Kentucky's Greg Adams Tennis Center Saturday.

Sophomore Nik Porter (Tunbridge Wells, England/Bennett Memorial School), freshman Gary Bianco (Annecy, France/Lycee Berthollet), and sophomore Rehman Esmail (Coquitlam, BC/Dr. Charles Best Secondary/North Carolina State) each won twice against Dayton. Porter defeated J.R. Randall of the Musketeers at number two singles, and teamed with junior Armando Martinez (San Antonio, TX/Canyon HS/West Texas A&M) to defeat Matt Zollman and Justin Reyes at number three doubles, 8-5. Bianco downed Rob Simpson at number three singles, 6-0, 7-5, then teamed with Esmail to defeat Simpson and Randall at number two doubles, 8-4. Esmail defeated Zollman at number five singles, 7-5, 6-4.

Against Dayton, the Broncs won at one through five singles. Martinez and senior Tom Mangelschots (Limburg, Belgium/KA 2 HS) defeated Rex Cabrera and Reaves Kathary at number three doubles to clinch the doubles point.

"I thought we played pretty well," said UTPA Head Coach Eduardo Provencio. "We are starting to get used to the indoor courts, although we did play a little bit loose. I was really happy that Armando won his doubles match against Dayton. He's worked hard all year, and he finally has something to show for it."

The Broncs improved to 4-1 with the victory. They will return to action when they play Saint Louis next Saturday in San Antonio.

TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 5, XAVIER 2

SINGLES
1-Justin Yeager, XU, defeated Jeremy Salvo, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
2-Nik Porter, UTPA, defeated J.R. Randall, 6-2, 6-4
3-Gary Bianco, UTPA, defeated Rob Simpson, 6-0, 7-5
4-Oliver Steil, UTPA, defeated Ryan Potts, 6-3, 6-2
5-Rehman Esmail, UTPA, defeated Matt Zollman, 7-5, 6-4
6-Kevin Gaughan, XU, defeated Armando Martinez, 6-2, 6-0

DOUBLES

1-Yeager and Brad Meadors, XU, defeated Salvo and Steil, 9-7
2-Esmail and Bianco, UTPA, defeated Simpson and Randall, 8-4
3-Porter and Martinez, UTPA, defeated Zollman and Justin Reyes, 8-5

TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 6, DAYTON 1

SINGLES

1-Jeremy Salvo, UTPA, defeated Rob Altenau, 6-4, 6-3
2-Gary Bianco, UTPA, defeated Tom Murphy, 7-6, 6-1
3-Oliver Steil, UTPA, defeated Jonathan Khoury, 6-2, 6-4
4-Tom Mangelschots, UTPA, defeated Jamison Downs, 7-5, 7-6
5-Rehman Esmail, UTPA, defeated Rex Cabrera, 6-1, 6-1
6-Reaves Kathary, Dayton, defeated Armando Martinez, 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES

1-Altenau and Khoury, Dayton, defeated Salvo and Steil, 8-3
2-Bianco and Esmail, UTPA, defeated Murphy and Downs, 8-2
3-Mangelschots and Martinez, UTPA, defeated Cabrera and Kathary, 9-8

TE-26-04-020704