ORLANDO, Fla.—The University of Texas at Tyler Men's Tennis (2-4) opened up a four-match trip to central Florida with a 6-1 victory over NCAA Division I opponent Howard University (0-5).
 
The Patriots took a pair of victories in doubles action highlighted by junior Ford Cunningham (League City, Texas) and senior Tomas Parra (Maracaibo, Venezuela) who recorded their fourth victory of the season together. The duo earned a 6-4 victory at number-three and have now won back-to-back matches together. At number-two doubles, junior Daniel Rodriguez (San Luis Potosi, Mexico) and sophomore Jose Currea (Bogota, Columbia) also earned a 6-4 win.
 
In singles play, Parra moved to 5-1 on the season with a two-set victory. He won the first set 6-1 before sealing the match with a 6-4 victory in the second set. Junior Gabriel Hidalgo (Barquisimento, Venezuela) and senior Alvar De La Mano (Barcelona, Spain) both picked up their second singles victory of the season with wins at number-five and six singles.
 
Getting their first singles wins of the season were Currea and Cunningham. Currea won after a hard-fought match at number-four singles which saw him take a 6-1 victory in the first set. After his Bison opponent forced a third-set tiebreak, Currea edged out an 11-9 vicory. Cunningham swept his match at number-six with set scores of 6-1 and 6-2.
 
The Patriots will be back in action Tuesday afternoon when they take on NCAA Division II opponent the University of North Georgia at 2 p.m.