Feb. 6, 2004

RICHMOND, KY-The University of Texas-Pan American's men's tennis team won the first match of their three-match eastern trip, defeating host Eastern Kentucky, 6-1 Friday afternoon.

Junior Jeremy Salvo (Coquitlam, BC/Centennial Secondary), sophomore Nik Porter (Tunbridge Wells, England/Bennett Memorial School) , freshman Gary Bianco (Annecy, France/Lycee Berthollet), sophomore Oliver Steil (Brunssum, The Netherlands/AF North International School) and sophomore Rehman Esmail (Coquitlam, BC/Dr. Charles Best Secondary/North Carolina State) each won twice for the Broncs. Salvo defeated John Kellert at number one singles, and combined with Oliver Steil to defeat Kellert and Mario Simic at number one doubles, 8-4. Nik Porter defeated Tom Wospil at number two singles, 6-4, 6-3, then combined with senior Tom Mangelschots (Limburg, Belgium/KA 2 HS) to defeat Alvin Cheng and Chris Jacques at number two doubles, 8-3. Gary Bianco defeated Simic at number three singles, 6-4, 6-1, then combined with Rehman Esmail to defeat Wospil and Chase Armstrong at number three doubles, 8-6. Steil defeated Chris Jacques at number five singles, 6-2, 6-2, and Esmail downed Billy Pfaffinger at number six singles, 6-2, 6-1.

"I was pretty impressed with the talent level of Texas Pan-American," said EKU head coach Rob Oertel. "I think they're a team with a legitimate shot of cracking the top 75 nationally this year. I thought we came out and played hard, but I have to give Texas Pan-Am all the credit."

The Broncs improved to 2-1 with the victory. They will conclude their trip by playing Dayton and Xavier at Eastern Kentucky Saturday.

TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 6, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1

SINGLES

1-Jeremy Salvo, UTPA, defeated John Kellert, 6-4, 6-3
2-Nik Porter, UTPA, defeated Tom Wospil, 6-4, 6-3
3-Gary Bianco, UTPA, defeated Mario Simic, 6-4, 6-1
4-Alvin Cheng, EKU, defeated Tom Mangelschots, 5-7, 6-0, 6-0
5-Oliver Steil, UTPA, defeated Chris Jacques, 6-2, 6-2
6-Rehman Esmail, UTPA, defeated Billy Pfaffinger, 6-2, 6-1

DOUBLES

1-Salvo and Steil, UTPA, defeated Kellert and Simic, 8-4
2-Mangelschots and Porter, UTPA, defeated Cheng and Jacques, 8-3
3-Esmail and Bianco, UTPA, defeated Wospil and Chase Armstrong, 8-6