LAST TIME OUT
The Patriots got the chance to open up the 2023 home portion of their schedule on Sunday afternoon as they hosted Mississippi College at Summers Tennis Center.
The #19 ranked UT Tyler men's program started off slow by dropping the doubles point, but ended up bouncing back in a huge way in singles as they kicked off a rally that led to a massive 4-2 win to extend their winning streak to five matches.
For the Patriots women, they would fight until the very end of their match as they posted several key victories throughout the match. However, Mississippi College would get the better of UT Tyler by a score of 4-3, and snapping the Patriots five match winning streak.
LAST YEAR IN THE LSC
In the 2022 season, UT Tyler men's tennis boasted a strong 6-1 record in the Lone Star Conference regular season, with their only loss coming at the hands of Midwestern State. The Patriots would rebound in a big way, rolling big in the LSC tournament on their way to claiming the LSC tournament title for the first time in program history. That led to them hosting an NCAA regional, where they would win and qualify for the final 16 at the NCAA Championships.
On the women's side, the Patriots finished 4-5 on the year and contended tightly all season long. They would qualify for the LSC tournament, and then posted a huge 4-3 win over #23 Angelo State in the opening round of the tournament for their first win in the LSC tournament in program history.
WHAT COACH BIZOT IS SAYING
On the matches against Mississippi College: "I was really proud of both teams. Mississippi College came in playing really well. All of the matches on the women's side came down to some really small details and I thought we were a little unlucky. I couldn't be prouder of how we fought on the women's side. On the men's side it was kind of the same thing, we dropped the doubles point. Joaquin was under the weather and he was able to grind out a win, Egor stepped up and was really big for us, it was really just a total team effort."
On this week's matchups: "UT Permian Basin is a much improved team especially on the men's side. It's probably the best UTPB men's team they've had maybe ever. I think on the women's side they've improved quite a bit so we expect a challenge on both sides. With Western New Mexico coming in this Friday I think one of the challenges we have is the road trips that we have around these matches."
THE SCOUTING REPORT
UT Permian Basin's men's program heads into this week with a 4-1 record in the spring and most recently came away with a 6-1 defeat of Western New Mexico back on February 25. They are led in doubles by the duo of Takumi Katsuda and Jonas Krahofer. That pair made the semifinals of the ITA South Central Regional tournament in the fall, and Katsuda was a regional finalist in singles.
On the women's side of Falcons tennis, they sit at 1-5 in the spring season with their lone win coming against Western New Mexico, also back on February 25. In that match, the Falcons dropped the doubles point and the first singles match, but rallied to win five straight singles matches. Rhea Singh and Tuva Asplund lead the way in doubles for the Falcons, and Teodora Vrucan leads in singles.
For Western New Mexico, their men's team is at 2-3 on the season with wins over Mesa Community College and Colorado Mesa. The Mustangs are led by Yu Jhe Du and Brendan Lock in doubles, and Lachlan Rowing leads in singles.
The Mustangs women's program sits at 4-1 in the 2023 spring season with their most recent win coming against Colorado Mesa. Their lone setback was against UT Permian Basin on February 25. The Mustangs are led in doubles by Caini Wang and Kasja Gredlitschka, and in singles it is Jenny Larsson.
NEXT UP
Following this week's action, the Patriots will pack their bags for a long Spring Break road trip as they head east for four matches in five days. Those matches begin on Sunday in Livingston, Alabama as they take on West Alabama, and then continue in Montgomery, Alabama as they face off against Auburn Montgomery.
