Lopes close out fall season in Las Vegas

Friday, November 4

Las Vegas, NV

Grand Canyon

UNLV Invitational

11/6/2016 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

By: Samantha Fell

LAS VEGAS – The GCU men's tennis team concluded play for the fall season on Sunday at the Easley Classic hosted by UNLV. The Lopes were led by sophomore Mathieu Rajaonah's victory in the consolation singles bracket of Flight One.

Rajaonah began the tournament with a hard-fought battle against UNLV's Alex Cozibinov on Friday. He came up just short in three sets to move to the consolation bracket. Once there, Rajaonah strung together three straight wins to take the title. He won by default against Riley Smith of USC then swept Lucas Taylor of NAU by scores of 6-4, 6-0. In the final, Rajaonah took Mike Pervolarakis to three sets and came out with the win after a 10-4 tiebreaker.

Valentin Lang and Justin Cvitanovic also found success in the consolation singles bracket of the second flight. Lang dropped his first match but was then granted a bye in the consolation bracket and advanced to the final with a win over Charlie Croxford of UNLV. Cvitanovic also dropped his first match to move to the consolation bracket but then made quick work of his next two opponents. He swept Peter Horvath of UNLV 6-0, 6-0 and then defeated Adam Gage-Brown, also of UNLV, 6-1, 6-2 to move to the final. Lang and Cvitanovic did not play in the final due to being on the same team so they ended up sharing the title.

In addition to their individual success, Lang and Cvitanovic also partnered together in doubles play. The pair defeated Gage-Brown and Solberg of UNLV 8-3 for the Lopes only doubles victory of the tournament.

GCU will now rest for the remainder of the semester before returning to action during the spring season. The first match for the Lopes will be on Jan. 21, 2017 against the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas.

Flight 1 - First Round Singles
Ruben Alberts (UNLV) def. Lorenzo Fucile (GCU) 6-1, 6-1
Alex Cozbinov (UNLV) def. Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Flight 1 – Consolation Singles
Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) def. Riley Smith (USC) by default
Mike Pervolarakis (PORT) def. Lorenzo Fucile (GCU) 6-7, 6-0, 1-0 (10-6)
Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) def. Lucas Taylor (NAU) 6-4, 6-0
Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) def. Mike Pervolarakis (PORT) 1-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-4)

Flight 2 – First Round Singles
Ty Gentry (OREG) def. Valentin Lang (GCU) 7-6 (10), 6-2
Carlos Donat (PORT) def. Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3

Flight 2 – Consolation Singles
Valentin Lang (GCU) bye
Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) def. Peter Horvath (UNLV) 6-0, 6-0
Valentin Lang (GCU) def. Charlie Croxford (UNLV) 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3)
Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) def. Adam Gage-Brown (UNLV) 6-1, 6-2
Valentin Lang (GCU) vs. Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) SAME TEAM – DID NOT PLAY

Flight 1 – First Round Doubles
Lang/Cvitanovic (GCU) def. Gage-Brown/Solberg (UNLV) 8-3
Garcia/Donat (PORT) def. Fucile/Rajoanah (GCU) 8-5
Smith/Devine (USC) def. Lang/Cvitanovic (GCU) 8-5

Flight 1 – Consolation Doubles
Lock/Neto (UNLV) def. Fucile/Rajoanah (GCU) 8-7 (6)