Box Score

EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs men's tennis team recorded their first Western Athletic Conference win of the season after defeating the Grand Canyon University Antelopes 4-3 on Friday at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
The match was clinched at 4-2 but with the final match already in the third set, they were allowed to finish out as the Antelopes (8-8) picked up the final point.
 
"It is amazing," Broncs head coach Brandon Stokes said. "It feels good to get that first conference win of the season. Grand Canyon is well coached and they were one of the preseason favorites, so to be able to start the first day of the weekend and take care of what we are supposed to was good. After dropping the doubles point, to come out and to win four first sets was important. The guys were able to find ways to compete when we weren't playing our best and that is what it is all about. Especially in conference play, you are never out of the fight."
 
The Broncs (5-9) rallied after dropping the doubles point as they won the first two singles matches. Freshman Miguel Alvarez-Hevia got the Broncs on the board with a 6-1, 6-3 over Meidy Chazeau at No. 4 singles.
 
"It was an awesome experience," Alvarez-Hevia said. "The atmosphere of all the guys cheering for the team was really good. My match was good. I didn't struggle much but it was good. All the guys played really well."
 
After being named WAC Athlete of the Week on Tuesday, junior Hector Ramirez opened his weekend with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Alexander Roggenkamp at No. 2 singles, for his first conference win of the season.
 
"It is a great feeling to be able to get that first conference win of the season, especially with it being at home," Ramirez said. "Words can't describe how it feels to get this win at home. Every Bronc was giving energy and it helped with the momentum. It is a great feeling to start of the weekend off with a win."
 
After the Antelopes picked up a point on court five, freshman Elliot Johnstone got the point back at No. 6 singles. He dropped the first set 2-6 to Gregoire Balenci but bounced back with a 7-6 win in the second set and then closed out the match with a 6-4 win in the third.
 
"It was awesome down on court six, deep down in the cave," Johnstone said. "It was an ugly win but I got the point for us. Everyone's energy on every court is what won it for us. The tough matches leading up to this weekend helped us. We had a good week of training and we came out ready to go. We gave everything we had and it paid off. I love it."
 
Sophomore Juan Cruz Soria put the finishing touches on the match as he defeated Felix Schueller at No. 1 singles. Soria won the first set 6-4 but fell 5-7 in the second set. He bounced back with a 6-4 win in the third to clinch the point and the match for the Broncs.
 
"It was important for our confidence to pick up that first win," Soria said. "I didn't play well in my match but I competed. That was the key to winning the match. This is the start of play with some of the best teams in the conference, so this is going to be important for the future."
 
The Broncs are back in action on Saturday as they host New Mexico State at 5:30 p.m. at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
Complete Results:
Doubles (3,2,1)
 
1. Adrian Legarreta/Philip Kuehnen (GCU) def. Juan Cruz Soria/Koby Jansen (UTPA) 8-5
2. Ethan Ammon/Hector Ramirez (UTPA) def. Felix Schueller /Alexander Roggenkamp (GCU) 8-3
3. Meidy Chazeau/Gregoire Balenci (GCU) def. Miguel Alvarez-Hevia/Elliot Johnstone (UTPA) 8-5
 
Singles (4,2,5,6,1,3)           
1. Juan Cruz Soria (UTPA) def. Felix Schueller (GCU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
2. Hector Ramirez (UTPA) def. Alexander Roggenkamp (GCU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Adrian Legarreta (GCU) def. Koby Jansen (UTPA) 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-4
4. Miguel Alvarez-Hevia (UTPA) def. Meidy Chazeau (GCU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Philip Kuehnen (GCU) def. Nikola Crvelin (UTPA) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
6. Elliot Johnstone (UTPA) def. Gregoire Balenci (GCU) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4

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