GCU earns first conference win against UMKC

Saturday, March 25

Phoenix, AZ

4 PM

Grand Canyon

Missouri - Kansas City

3/25/2017 10:57:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: Samantha Fell

PHOENIX – The GCU men's tennis team defeated Missouri-Kansas City 6-1 on Saturday evening at the GCU Tennis Facility. The Lopes improve to 1-1 in WAC play and 12-10 overall with the win. They will face Chicago State at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning tomorrow morning in celebration of Senior Day.

"The guys did a great job bouncing back from yesterday's loss," head coach Greg Prudhomme noted. "As tough as yesterday was, and as close as it was today, it was equally satisfying. The guys showed some great resilience. UMKC is a tough team, they shared the conference title with us last year, and beat us last year, so for us to get the win with a dominating with a 6-1 score says a lot about the guys."

The Lopes earned the doubles point thanks to wins by Mathieu Rajaonah and Mathieu Ounanian as well as Lorenzo Fucile and Valentin Lang. On Court 2, Rajaonah and Ounanian won by a 6-4 score and Fucile and Lang decisively won 6-1 won on Court 3.

"There was great play by everyone at doubles," Prudhomme added. "We lost the doubles point last year so that set the tone for the day. We won a lot of first sets in singles. UMKC put up some good fights but we hung in the second and got the job done."

In singles play, Fucile continued his impressive play this season with a 6-2, 6-3 win on Court 4. Fellow freshman Lang also pulled out a quick win on Court 6, ending the match with a 6-1, 6-3 score. Francois Musitelli won his match in two sets, defeating Castellano at No. 1 by a score of 6-1 6-5. Justin Cvitanovic also scored on Court 5 as he defeated Psarros of UMKC by scores of 7-5, 6-3. Rajaonah also edged out a three-set win on Court 2, winning by scores of 6-1, 1-6, 6-5

"We're going to keep fighting through the rest of these conference matches and try to finish as close to the top as possible," Prduhomme added. "We're happy with the result today and we will look forward to getting back on the court tomorrow against Chicago State and getting another conference win."

The Lopes will host Senior Day tomorrow at 9 a.m. before the match with Chicago State. Legarreta, Philip Kuehnen, Ounanian, and Rafael Lira will be honored at the event.

Grand Canyon University 6, Missouri-Kansas City 1
Mar 25, 2017 at Phoenix, Ariz. (GCU Tennis Facility)

Singles competition
1. Francois Musitelli (GCU) def. Airam Castellano (UMKC) 6-1, 7-5
2. Mathieu Rajaonah (GCU) def. Uldis Gaismins (UMKC) 6-1, 1-6, 6-5
3. Amaury Navette (UMKC) def. Adrian Legarreta (GCU) 4-6, 7-5, 10-7
4. Lorenzo Fucile (GCU) def. Tom Kruse (UMKC) 6-2, 6-3
5. Justin Cvitanovic (GCU) def. Mike Psarros (UMKC) 7-5, 6-3
6. Valentin Lang (GCU) def. Vinh Pham (UMKC) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Airam Castellano/Mike Psarros (UMKC) def. Adrian Legarreta/Philip Kuehnen (GCU) 6-4
2. Mathieu Rajaonah/Mathieu Ounanian (GCU) def. Uldis Gaismins/Amaury Navette (UMKC) 6-4
3. Lorenzo Fucile/Valentin Lang (GCU) def. Daniel Izadifar/Vinh Pham (UMKC) 6-1

Match Notes
Missouri-Kansas City 7-6
Grand Canyon University 12-10