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BEAUMONT – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs men's tennis team (7-14, 1-2 Southland) kicks off a stretch of three road matches in three days with a critical Southland Conference matchup against the Lamar University Cardinals (3-14, 1-1 Southland) on Friday at 3 p.m. at Thompson Family Tennis Center.
 
With a win, the Broncs would put themselves in strong position to finish in the top four and make the Southland Conference Tournament. The Broncs have already clinched a top five finish with their win over Oral Roberts on April 1. If the Broncs beat Lamar, that would give them the tiebreaker, meaning the Broncs would clinch a conference tournament berth with a win or a Cardinals loss.
 
If the Cardinals win, they will clinch a conference tournament berth and eliminate the Broncs.
 
The Broncs
The Broncs have performed well in doubles this season, going 27-25 (.519) in dual play, including 5-3 (.625) in Southland Conference play. The Broncs hold winning records at No. 2 (11-8) and No. 3 (10-5), including 2-1 at No. 2 and 2-0 at No. 3 in Southland Conference play.
 
Ricardo Hopker and Chetan Panditi have a 9-6 record, including 8-5 at No. 2, 1-1 at No. 1 at 1-1 in Southland Conference play.
 
Victor Alves and Thomas-Orestis Panoulas are 9-5, including a 9-4 record at No. 3 and a 2-0 record in Southland Conference play.
 
Scouting the Cardinals
The Cardinals have yet to win a Southland Conference doubles match, going 0-5. Overall, the Cardinals are 10-30 (.250) in doubles, including 4-9 at each of the top two spots and 2-12 at No. 3.
 
The Cardinals have had a little more success in singles, going 26-73 (.263), including 7-4 (.636) in Southland Conference play. Rob Lee leads the Cardinals with a 6-11 record.
 
Common Opponents
Opponent                   UTPA Result   Lamar Result
Incarnate Word         W 7-0             L 1-6 (exhibition)
Rice                             L 0-7               L 0-7
Louisiana                    L 0-7               L 0-7
Texas Teach               L 1-6               L 0-7
UTSA                           L 3-4               L 1-6
New Orleans              L 3-4               L 2-5
Prairie View A&M      W 7-0             W 6-1
Oral Roberts              W 5-2             W 6-1
 
Series History
The Broncs are 38-27-3 (.559) all-time against the Cardinals is a series dating back to 1958. Last season, the Broncs fell to the Cardinals 2-5 at home to close out the regular season.
 
Last Time Out
The Broncs dropped their final home match of the regular season, 0-7 to Louisiana Lafayette.
 
The Broncs got their lone win at No. 1 doubles, where Felix Hasselberg and Sebastien Job beat Rick de Groot and Jake Wynan 7-6 by default.
 
Panoulas Honored
After leading the Broncs to a 2-1 record and going 5-1, freshman Thomas-Orestis Panoulas became the second Bronc to earn Southland Conference Player of the Week honors on March 26. Panoulas started the week by earning the Broncs' lone point against No. 54 Arkansas, 3-6, 6-4 (10-5) over Manfred Jeske at No. 1 singles. He also swept through singles and doubles (with Victor Alves) in a doubleheader sweep of Incarnate Word and Prairie View A&M.
 
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 went 6-4 at home this season.
 
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 nine matches against ranked opponents:
 
Division I ranked opponents (0-5):
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. 54 Arkansas, L 1-6
3/30 @ No. 36 TCU, L 1-6
4/20 @ No. 58 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
 
Division II ranked opponents (2-0):
3/1 vs. No. 48 St. Mary's, W 5-2
3/23 vs. No. 19 Incarnate Word, W 7-0
 
Junior College ranked opponents (1-0):
2/1 vs. No. 7 Laredo Community College, W 4-3
 
Globetrotters
The Broncs have seven student-athletes on the roster representing six different countries, including Brazil, Belgium, Greece, India, Indonesia and Sweden.
 
Next Up
The Broncs face Alcorn State is Lafayette, Louisiana, on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.