TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler men's tennis has made it three straight years to the NCAA Round of 16 after taking down Lubbock Christian by a final score of 4-1 on Monday afternoon.
 
The Patriots looked steady early on in the doubles point, as they raced out to a big lead in line #1 and held the lead in another. However, the Chaps would battle back in all three lines before the Patriots pair of Daniil Felker and Egor Shestakov closed out their match at 6-4.
 
Each of the other two lines would play dramatic tennis, with neither side taking the lead by more than a game. The final win came down to Joaquin Bianchi and Carel Wessel, who took a key break and another game win after the score was 5-5 to earn a 7-5 win and the doubles point for the Patriots.
 
In singles, the Patriots stayed with the momentum, as Yudai Watanabe completed a 6-4, 6-0 straights win in dominant fashion to put the first singles point on the board.
 
The Chaps answered back in line #4, as they took a 6-1, 6-2 straight sets win to climb within one. However, the Patriots continued on their roll, as Joaquin Bianchi completed his win with a brilliant 6-4, 6-3 effort in line #1 to move the score to 3-1.
 
Just minutes later, the Patriots put the finishing touches on the win, as Jordi Garcia Portell closed out a 6-2, 6-4 straight sets win in line #5 to ensure the Patriots took home the win.
 
UT Tyler advances to their third straight NCAA Round of 16 with the win, now making it each year of their Division II eligibility. The Patriots will next take the court on May 21 in their round of 16 matchup, with the time and opponent to be determined.