For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 03, 2003
Contact: Adam Pitterman, UTPA Assistant Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

UTPA TENNIS TEAMS PREPARE FOR BIG WEEKEND

EDINBURG, TX—The University of Texas-Pan American men’s tennis team has a big weekend coming up.

The Broncs will visit in-state rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Friday afternoon, and return to host Centenary in a crucial Southland Conference match Saturday at the Cox Tennis Center.  The Texas-Pan American women’s tennis team will also host Centenary Saturday.

Texas-Pan American defeated TAMU-CC, 4-3, earlier this season, but the Islanders have gone 11-3 since the February 15^th defeat.  UTPA has won six of their last seven matches, and brings a record of 10-5 into Saturday’s contest, while the Islanders are 12-7.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went 3-0 in their recent trip to California and moved up to 59th in the latest national poll. Two of the Islanders’ last four wins were against then 48th-ranked Purdue, and then 72^nd-ranked UC-Irvine.

“I expect it (the TAMU-CC match) to be a big match,” said UTPA Head Coach Todd Chapman.  “Since we beat them, they’ve beaten three ranked teams, and are 59^th in the nation.  They have what we want, though, a national ranking.”

Centenary brings a 3-12 record into Saturday’s contest, and has won two of their last three matches.  The Gents are 0-3 in the Southland Conference, while the Broncs are tied for third place with Southeastern Louisiana with a SLC record of 1-2.  “Centenary always plays hard,” said Chapman.  “If we play our best tennis, we should come out of Saturday with a win.  Our goal is to win our last two conference matches.  If we do that we’ll tie for second place, and hopefully get a favorable seed in the tournament.”

Freshman Oliver Steil (Brunssum, The Netherlands/AF North International School) has won 10 of his last 11 singles matches, and freshman Nik Porter (Tunbridge Wells, England/Bennett Memorial School) has won seven of his last eight matches in singles competition.  Sophomore Filip Koziell (Calgary, AB/Bishop Carroll HS) has won his last seven singles matches, while the duo of senior Matt Gower (Somerset, England/Kings of Wessex HS/St. Francis) and Porter have won three of their last four doubles matches.

The Lady Broncs bring a record of 4-14 into Saturday’s match, and have won two of their last three matches.  The Ladies are 5-11, and have dropped four of their last five contests.  “Before the Vermont match, our goal was to win our last four,” said Chapman.  “We have a chance to win, and hopefully we’ll compete hard.  We need to maintain our positive attitude.”

Freshman Laura Boskovich (San Jose, CA/St. Francis High School) and junior Julie Fife (Los Alamos, NM/Los Alamos High School) have each won their last two singles matches.

The UTPA men’s tennis team will return to action when they visit Rice next Wednesday afternoon.  The Lady Broncs will return to action next Saturday, when they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

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