TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler men's tennis has reached new heights as a program this season and are looking to keep that momentum going as they take on Hawaii Pacific in the Round of 16 in hopes of advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
 
HOW WE GOT HERE
 
UT Tyler has never picked a better time to find their form and go on a hot streak. Dating back to April 23^rd, the Patriots have rattled off five consecutive victories. Along the way, the Patriots won three matches in a row to claim their first LSC tournament title in program history. In that conference tournament run, UT Tyler avenged their only loss of the LSC slate to Midwestern Statein the LSC tournament championship match.
 
That huge run was followed by their first ever appearance in the NCAA South Central Region Tournament as a Division II program. The Patriots collected the number one seed in the region, and capitalized on the home court advantage with a 4-0 sweep of St. Mary's to move on to the NCAA Round of 16 in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
 
For Hawaii Pacific, they have established themselves as one of the premier programs in all of Division II. The Sharks are currently ranked at #4 in the latest ITA rankings and will carry the #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Sharks have achieved similar levels of form to the Patriots as they ended their regular season. They played four consecutive top 26 teams in Division II over their final four matches and collected wins against each of them.
 
In the PacWest conference tournament, #2 Hawaii Pacific rolled through their first two matches, avenging their only regular season loss of the season against Hawaii Hilo. The Sharks took on Azusa Pacific in the championship match but fell by a score of 4-3. However, Hawaii Pacific did plenty during the regular season to ensure that they would receive the number one overall seed in the West Region.
 
In that west region, the Sharks took on Hawaii Hilo on their home courts and ran away with a 4-1 victory to cement themselves into the NCAA Round of 16.
 
THE SCOUTING REPORT
 
The Sharks and the Patriots have never squared off against each other in their program histories. Hawaii Pacific sits on the island of O'ahu, and the two universities sit 3,881 miles from each other.
 
For Hawaii Pacific, they are 17-2 on the season. They began their year with a 4-0 run at the Hawaii Invitational that saw them take down the then ranked #12, #17, and #4 ranked teams in Division II. That run continued with six more consecutive wins including wins over the then ranked #7, #37, #16, and #4 teams in Division II.
 
The Sharks lone regular season loss came at the hands of Hawaii Hilo on April 2. Hawaii Pacific rebounded huge, closing the season with four straight wins over the then #26, #2, #3, and #8 ranked teams in Division II.
 
Leading the way for the Sharks on the singles side of action is All-PacWest First Team singles selections Jordi Walder. Walder is 11-1 on the season with this lone loss of the season coming against the then #8 ranked singles player in Division II on April 15. Walder is on a two match win streak since that loss, and has been involved in four unfinished matches since the defeat.
 
In doubles, it is the pair of Walder and Jan Pleva that leads the Sharks. The duo has combined for a 10-5 record this season that includes a big 7-6 victory over the then number five ranked doubles pair in Division II.
 
Hawaii Pacific is coached by Hendrik Bode. Bode is in his 10^th season with the Sharks, and led the program to their first ever national championship in 2016. He has been instrumental in the Sharks program success, earning five PacWest Coach of the Year honors and was also named the 2015 ITA Division II Coach of the Year.
 
ON THE HORIZON
 
With a win, Hawaii Pacific or UT Tyler will move on to the NCAA Quarterfinals where they will take on the winner of #7 Flagler and #10 Charleston. That match will take place on Thursday at 11 a.m.