EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs men's tennis team (4-11) returns from a six-match road trip to open up a three-match home stand on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. against the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals (9-3) and 2:30 p.m. against the Prairie View A&M University Panthers (4-8) at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
The Broncs will host a free youth clinic, presented by Cricket, in-between matches, starting at 12:30 p.m.
 
Admission is free.
 
The Broncs
The Broncs have performed well in doubles this season, going 18-17 (.514) in dual play and holding winning records at No. 2 (8-5) and No. 3 (6-4). Ricardo Hopker and Chetan Panditi lead the Broncs with a 6-3 record, including 5-2 at No. 2 and 1-1 at No. 1. Victor Alves and Thomas-Orestis Panoulas are 5-4, including a 5-3 record at No. 3.
 
Scouting the Cardinals
The Cardinals are the No. 19 ranked team in NCAA Division II and getting ready to start the transition to Division I as members of the Southland Conference in July. They have winning records at all positions in doubles and singles. In dual play, the Cardinals are 23-13 (.639) in doubles, including 7-5 at each of the top two spots and 9-3 at No. 3. The Cardinals are 48-19 (.716) in singles, including 10-2 at No. 4, 9-3 at No. 5, and 9-3 at No. 2 and No. 3. Brandon Davis leads the way with an 11-2 singles record, including 10-1 in dual play.
 
Series History
This is the second meeting in program history. The Broncs beat the Cardinals in their first meeting in 2001.
 
Scouting the Panthers
The Panthers are 0-2 in true road matches this season, with losses at No. 29 Texas Tech (0-7) and Lamar (1-6). Three of their wins have been in SWAC play, while the other win came against a non-DI, Texas Lutheran. The Panthers are 14-17 (.452) in doubles, with a winning record only at No. 3 (7-3). The Panthers are 35-36 (.493) in singles, including winning records at No. 1 (6-5), No. 4 (7-5), and No. 6 (7-5). Karim Fosto leads the way with a 7-3 record.
 
Series History
The Broncs swept the Panthers with a pair of road wins last season to move to 10-0 all-time in a series dating back to 1986.
 
All-Time Results
1986 W 9-0
1987 W 9-0
1989 W 9-0
2004 W 4-0
2005 W 7-0
2006 W 4-3
2007 W 5-2
2008 W 6-0
2012 W 7-0, W 6-1
 
Last Time Out
The Broncs fell at No. 54 Arkansas 1-6. The Broncs picked up their lone win at No. 1 singles, where Thomas-Orestis Panoulas knocked off Manfred Jeske, 3-6, 6-4 (10-5). It's the second time this season that Panoulas has defeated the No. 1 singles player of a ranked team.
 
Freshmen Flare
Felix Hasselberg made his dual singles debut against Schreiner on March 2, winning 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6. Joseph Bishop played at No. 5 for the first time, winning 6-0, 6-1. The two teamed up in doubles, winning 8-1 at No. 3 in what was Bishop's dual doubles debut.
 
Awesome Alves
Junior Victor Alves got off to a hot start in dual play, going 2-1 in singles and 2-1 doubles over the Broncs' first four matches. Alves had a 4-0 weekend during the Broncs' first two home matches on Feb. 1 and 3, teaming with Panoulas to win twice at No. 3 doubles, and then picking up a win at No. 5 singles against Laredo Community College and at No. 6 against UTSA. Alves was the first to finish in singles both times. For his efforts, Alves earned Southland Conference Player of the Week honors.
 
Home Sweet Home
The Broncs are 4-2 at home this season with four matches remaining.
 
This is the most home matches the Broncs have had in a single season since the turn of the century.
 
Tough Schedule
The Broncs are challenging themselves this season and currently boast a schedule that includes eight matches against ranked opponents:
 
Division I ranked opponents (0-3):
1/16 @ No. 29 Texas Tech, L 1-6
1/27 @ No. 54 Rice, L 0-7
2/16 @ No. 18 Baylor, L 0-7
3/19 @ No. 46 Arkansas
4/20 @ No. 53 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
 
Division II ranked opponents (1-0):
3/1 vs. No. 48 St. Mary's, W 5-2
3/23 vs. No. 19 Incarnate Word
 
Junior College ranked opponents (1-0):
2/1 vs. No. 7 Laredo Community College, W 4-3
 
Globetrotters
The Broncs have eight student-athletes on the roster representing seven different countries, including the United States of America, Brazil, Belgium, Greece, India, Indonesia and Sweden. The lone American Bronc is Sanoja, who calls Mission home.
 
Next Up
The Broncs resume to Southland Conference play when they host the University of New Orleans on Monday at 12:00 p.m.