March 6, 2005

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The University of Texas - Pan American men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision in match play against The University of Texas - San Antonio Sunday (Mar. 6). Due to poor weather conditions, the matches were moved inside at the Summit Sport Club in McAllen, TX.

The Broncs were able to win one of the doubles matches as Jeremy Salvo (Conquitlam, B.C., Canada/Centennial Secondary) and Rehman Esmail (Conquitlam, B.C., Canada/North Carolina State) battled in the No. 1 spot to put away UTSA's top team of Jonas Hoglund and Hetori Chaves. However, UTPA dropped the doubles point as the Roadrunners found victory 8-4 in both the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches.

In singles play, the Broncs played tough tennis but fell short in five of the six matches. Getting a big victory in No. 1 singles for the Broncs was Gary Bianco (Annecy, France/Lycee Berthollet) who took a three-set victory over UTSA's Dennis Andrade. After securing the first set, 7-6, Bianco dropped the second, 6-3. In the third set, Bianco would regain the momentum and take the set, 6-2, to seal the victory.

The Broncs' Oliver Steil (Brunssum, The Netherlands/AF North International School) also battled through a tough match taking the first set, 6-3, before falling in the No. 4 spot to Chaves, 6-4, in the second and then dropped the deciding super tie break 10-3.

The matches continued to be close as UTPA's Nik Porter (Tunbridge Wells, England/Bennett Memorial School) fell to UTSA's Hoglund, 7-6 and 6-1, in No. 3 singles, and Esmail finished falling short, 7-6 and 6-2, to Joe Michael Olfindo in the No. 5 spot.

Other matches included Cantu in No. 6 singles action where he was finished off, 6-0 and 6-0, by the Roadrunner's Avila, and Salvo who played in the No. two slot dropped, 6-3 and 6-4, to Portois.

The loss takes the team to 1-4 in match play this season with their next match scheduled for March 7th against St. Louis in Corpus Christi, TX starting at 10:00 a.m.

UTPA Sports Information