GCU’s tennis team is on a roll, showing strong performances this weekend with two impressive victories. They defeated New Mexico State 6-1 and Wichita State 4-0, demonstrating their growing skills under head coach Ross Wilson.
In the match against New Mexico State, the team kicked things off by winning the doubles point. Freshman Tristan Berard and sophomore Andreas Loizas took down their opponents 6-2. Senior Brice Patoux and sophomore Daniel Jankoski added to the success, winning 6-3. Coach Wilson highlighted the importance of getting that early win in doubles, saying, “We captured the momentum.”
Newcomer Charlie Pade made a great entrance into the singles matches, winning decisively in both sets 6-2. Patoux showcased his skills, defeating Thomas Duforets 6-2, 6-1. Berard maintained his undefeated singles streak by overcoming Holland Snell 6-2, 6-4. Sophomore Diordan Macababbad sealed the win for the Lopes after overcoming Laurendi Fischer 6-3, 6-2.
Moving on to the match against Wichita State, GCU continued their winning streak. The doubles competition was highly competitive, with Patoux and Jankoski winning 7-5, and Loizas and Berard coming from behind to clinch their match 7-5. Coach Wilson praised the doubles point as crucial for their victory.
The young team, notably with only one upperclassman, has shown impressive teamwork. Berard and Macababbad dominated their singles matches, winning convincingly. Berard’s straight-sets win was 6-1, 6-3, and Macababbad cruised with a 6-2, 6-0 victory. Patoux secured the match for GCU on court 5 with a strong performance, wrapping it up 6-2, 6-1.
This weekend’s successes reinforce the Lopes’ potential and camaraderie. They’ll take a brief break before facing UTSA at home on Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Recent sports statistics show that teams with strong doubles performances often win over 70% of their matches. This serves as a testament to the emphasis GCU places on that initial team effort. As they fine-tune their skills, the Lopes are on track to be a formidable force in the upcoming matches. For more details on their performances, check this NCAA report.
