April 8, 2011

Arlington, Texas - The UT Arlington men's tennis team picked up their first conference win of the season against UTPA 4-3 Friday afternoon at the UTA Tennis Center. The victory improved the Mavericks to 9-7 overall and 1-2 in league action.

UTA started off with a 1-0 lead after recording wins in all three doubles flig hts. Doubles team of Lucas Leppen and Brieuc Hamon were the first to register a win, earning an 8-5 decision against Sebastian Job and Matt Teivans.

Nicolas Moreno and Yauheni Yakauleu handed UTPA's No. 3 team of Ricardo Hopker and Victor Alvesan an 8-5 loss while the Mavericks top team of Mindaugas Celedinas and David Subirats finished off the Broncs, earning a 9-8 victory.

The Mavericks moved to singles action with a 1-0 lead but knew they would need to bring their best game to the table.

Sophomore Yauheni Yakauleu's match tuned out to be the deciding point as he pulled out a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Hopker in the No. 3 position. His match was the fourth to be finished.

In the No. 5 flight, Subirats was the first to put the Mavericks up 2-0 after winning a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Job. Moreno handed Abdel Riani a 6-4, 6-1 setback in the No. 6 spot, putting UTA up 3-0.

Leppen suffered a 6-2, 6-4 loss in the No. 2 position against Bernstein, making the score 3-1. Yakauleu's flight was the next to be finished and gave UT Arlington four points for the win.

Celedinas dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision against Vijayaragavan in the top flight while Hjertonsson also lost his match, falling against Teivans, 6-1, 7-6.

The Mavericks return to the UTA Tennis Center tomorrow at 11 a.m. for a match up against UC Santa Barbara.