PHOENIX – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley men's tennis team is set to open Western Athletic Conference play Friday when they take on the University of Missouri-Kansas City at the GCU Tennis Facility.
 
Last Time Out
UTRGV (2-17) closed out their spring break trip with a 1-6 loss against Kennesaw State on Friday. Their match was originally scheduled for Saturday but the threat of rain forced the team to move the match earlier.
 
Kennesaw State got off to a quick start taking two of three doubles matches. Elliot Johnstone and Andres Hernandez were tied at four with David Durham and Drew Wendel before their match was stopped.
 
In singles, Yehonatan Kaufman picked up the lone point for UTRGV. Kaufman dropped his first set on court two to Sam Slade 2-6 but forced a third set with a 6-3 win in the second. In the tiebreaking set, Kaufman once again won 6-3 close the match.
 
Scouting UMKC
UMKC is 6-5 on the season and is coming off of a 1-6 loss to Wichita State on March 17.
 
They are riding a two-match losing streak but have recorded wins against Montana State, Air Force Academy, Baker, Nebraska-Omaha and South Dakota State.
 
After facing UTRGV, UMKC will play Grand Canyon and Seattle U to close out their weekend.
 
Airam Castellano and Uldis Gaismins have led the 'Roos throughout the season. It was Castellano who came away with the only point for UMKC against Wichita State.
 
The All-Time Series
UTRGV is 3-1 against UMKC in a series that dates back to 2014.
 
The two teams faced each other last season and it was UMKC who came away with the 5-2 win over UTRGV on April 9 in Kansas City.
 
The last time UTRGV defeated UMKC came back on March 29, 2015 when they picked up a 4-3 win at the Orville Cox Tennis Center.
 
Next Up
UTRGV will be back in action on Saturday when they face Seattle U at 10 a.m. at the GCU Tennis Facility.  

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