EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs men's tennis team closes out their home schedule as they host the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Friday at 10 a.m. on Senior Day at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
Last Time Out
The Broncs (3-11) were forced indoors because of bad weather as they fell 6-0 to the Rice University Owls at the Galleria Tennis & Athletic Club.
 
With the delay and change of venue, the match started with singles competition.  
 
The Owls swept through singles in straight sets. Juan Cruz Soria fell 6-1, 6-4 to Tommy Bennett at No. 1 singles. Chetan Panditi lost 6-1, 6-4 to Srikar Alla at No. 2 singles while Sebastien Job fell 6-2, 6-0 to Adam Gustafsson at the No.3 position.
 
Ricardo Hopker lost 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles to Max Andrews. Mauricio Fosado lost 6-1, 6-2 to Gustavo Gonzalez at No. 5 singles and Joseph Bishop fell 6-4, 6-4 to Henrik Munch at the No. 6 spot.
 
Scouting the Cardinals
The Cardinals are 9-3 on the season and are coming off a 4-0 win over Cameron University on Tuesday.
 
Jair Assuncao and Tucker Brown each have nine wins in singles competition. Assuncao is riding an eight-match win streak while playing all his matches at No. 1 singles. Brown has played mainly at No. 4 while posting an 8-2 record at the position.
 
Josip Smoljan was named the Southland Conference Player of the Week and is riding a seven-match win streak while playing mainly at No. 3 singles.
 
In doubles, Leonard Ivic and Smoljan have posted an 8-3 record while playing at the No. 1 doubles spot. Assuncao and Brown have played mainly at the No. 2 spots while posting a 5-5 record and a 7-5 record overall.

The Series
The Broncs are 2-1 against the Cardinals all-time in a series that dates back to 2001. This is the second time this season that both of these teams will face each other. The Cardinals defeated the Broncs 5-2 in San Antonio on February 15.
 
The Broncs last beat the Cardinals last season when they won 7-0 on March 23, 2013 at the Orville Cox Tennis Center. 
 
Globetrotters
The Broncs have eight student-athletes representing six countries including, Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, India, Mexico and the United States. Sanoja is from the Rio Grande Valley as he calls Mission home.
 
Next Up
The Broncs hit the road to face the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners at 12 p.m. on Sunday.

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