Jan. 28, 2008

The University of Texas-Pan American men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to Clemson, the 30th ranked team in the country on Sunday (Jan. 27) in Austin, TX.

"The guys were really competitive this weekend and overall I think it was successful," said men's and women's tennis coach Rob Hubbard. "We should have won the doubles match but unfortunately the first and third match got away from us. We are a very young team but I think once we get more matches under our belt we'll be fine."

The Broncs started off the day with doubles' action, where duo Ivan Avila (Mexico City, Mexico/Texas Southern) and Nirvick Mohinta (Calcutta, West Bengal, India / University of New Orleans ) dropped a close 8-4 decision to Rok Bizjak and Carlos Alvarez in the top flight.

Playing the number-two spot of the rotation, newcomer Ashwin Vijayaragan (Andhrapradesh, India/ Kenedy Vidya Bhavan H.S.) and Brett Bernstein (Sugarland, TX/Austin H.S.) handed Ike Belk and Kevin Fleck an 8-4 setback while Marcus Dornauf (East Launceston, Tasmania, Australia /Scotch Oakburn College Prep) and Andrew Irving (Hamilton, New Zeland/St. John's College) fell to Derek DiFazio and Kevin Galloway in the number-three spot.

In singles' action, Avila dropped a 6-3, 6-0 decision to Bizak in the number-one spot of the lineup while Vijayaragan suffered a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 setback against Ike Belk in the number-two spot of the rotation.

Playing in the number-three spot, Mohinta fell to Fleck by scores of 6-2, 6-2 while Irving dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to Alvarez in the number-four spot if the lineup.

Bernstein recorded a 6-3, 6-4 victory over DiFazio in the number-five spot of the rotation while Dornauf dropped his match to Kevin Galloway by scores of 6-2, 6-2 in the number-six spot.

The Broncs will be back on the road this weekend as they travel to Nacogdoches, TX where they will face-off against Centenary College with match-time slated for 9 a.m.

UTPA Sports Information