Box Score

EDINBURG – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs men's tennis team closed out their weekend with a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Kangaroos on Sunday at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
The Broncs (6-10) opened doubles with a loss on court one but bounced back with a win on court 3 as the team of Elliot Johnstone and Miguel Alvarez-Hevia defeated Conner Edwards and Amaury Navette 8-4. The Kangaroos (8-10) clinched the doubles point with a win on court two.
 
"It didn't look good there as they took that doubles point from us," Broncs head coach Brandon Stokes said. "They got on us in singles. They won three courts and we won on three courts and I was thinking about where the fourth one was going to come from. Miguel had that look in his eyes all day. I had complete trust in him and he had complete trust in himself. He was the ultimate competitor today."
 
In singles, UMKC started off with a win on court six but the Broncs battled back with a win on court one. Juan Cruz Soria defeated Airam Castellano in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 as he finished the weekend with a 3-0 singles record.
 
"After the doubles match that we lost, I was so excited to win that point for the team," Soria said. "It was good to prove to myself that I could give that important point to the team. We needed it. Playing No. 1 is tough because I play with the best players of each team but I try to compete and give my best for the team, for me and for coach."
 
After playing at No. 3 singles on the first two days, Koby Jansen found himself playing at No. 2 on Sunday and he delivered for the Broncs. Jansen tied the match with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Andrey Smirnov.
 
"Today was very windy and it wasn't about who was the better player," Jansen said. "It was about who wanted it more and who is willing to go deeper into the pain cave and that is what I did today. That is what I did better than my opponent. It feels good for me but also for the team. Me winning my match helps the team win and the team winning is the most important thing. We were going for 3-0 on the weekend and we came very close against New Mexico State but 2-1 is a good start. We only have bigger and brighter places to go."
 
The Broncs took the lead after Ethan Ammon picked up his first singles win of the weekend after he defeated Conner Edwards 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 singles.
 
"It was great," Ammon said. "We put in a lot of work in the fall season and now into the spring season. It feels really great but not just for myself but for my team because when you are out there you are not playing for yourself but for everyone else. You have days where you aren't playing your best but you know everyone has your back. It feels great to know that I had everyone's back today."
 
After the Kangaroos picked up a point with a win on court four, it all came down to court three where Alvarez-Hevia dropped his first set to Vinh Pham 3-6. He then bounced back to win the second set 6-3 and followed with a 6-4 win in the third to clinch the point and the match for the Broncs.
 
"That is an amazing feeling," Alvarez-Hevia said. "It is a completely new experience. I can't describe with words how it felt to have all the guys cheering for me in that last match of the weekend. It was a great moment. I started out a little bit nervous but after dropping that first set I started playing better."
 
The Broncs are back in action on Thursday when they host Laredo Community College at 2 p.m. at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
Complete Results:
Doubles (1,3,2)
 
1. Mike Psarros/Airam Castellano (UMKC) def. Juan Cruz Soria/Koby Jansen (UTPA) 8-4
2. Uldis Gaismins/Andrey Smirnov (UMKC) def. Ethan Ammon/Hector Ramirez (UTPA) 8-6
3. Miguel Alvarez-Hevia/Elliot Johnstone (UTPA) def. Conner Edwards/Amaury Navette (UMKC) 8-4
 
Singles (6,1,2,5,4,3)           
1. Juan Cruz Soria (UTPA) def. Airam Castellano (UMKC) 6-2, 6-2
2. Koby Jansen (UTPA) def. Andrey Smirnov (UMKC) 6-2, 6-3
3. Miguel Alvarez-Hevia (UTPA) def. Vinh Pham (UMKC) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Uldis Gaismins (UMKC) def. Elliot Johnstone (UTPA) 6-2, 6-4
5. Ethan Ammon (UTPA) def. Conner Edwards (UMKC) 6-3, 6-4
6. Mike Psarros (UMKC) def. Nikola Crvelin (UTPA) 6-0, 6-1

Support UTPA Tennis | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow the Broncs on Twitter | Follow the Broncs on Instagram | Follow the Broncs on YouTube