Lopes comeback against Wolfpack

Friday, March 9

Davis, Calif.

10:00 A.M.

Grand Canyon

Nevada

Photo by: Travis Neely

3/9/2018 11:07:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

By: Jerob Moon

DAVIS, Calif.—The Grand Canyon men's tennis team (8-4) started off on the right foot at the Golden State Invite with a 4-3 comeback win against Nevada (7-3). It is the second straight year the Lopes have defeated the Wolfpack in the first round of this tournament.

"The guys did a great job coming from behind," head coach Greg Prudhomme said. "There has been a handful of times this season that they've dropped the doubles point, but they are showing that it doesn't't faze them."

Nevada won at No. 2 and No. 3 over Valentin Lang/Gregoire Balenci and Freddie Grant/Lucas Grego to take the doubles point. The Wolfpack won both matches by a score of 6-3. Lorenzo Fucle and Mathieu Rajaonah's match at No. 1 was left unfinished at a competitive 5-5 score.

Heading into singles GCU turned the score around quick by winning the first three matches. Fucile won in straight sets at No. 2 and Rajaonah won at No. 1 after dropping the first set 0-6, 6-2, 7-5. Grego continued his great play as of late, winning at No. 5 in straight sets and extending his match winning streak to four. Lopes lead early 3-1.

After Nevada cut into the lead by defeating Gregoire Balenci at No. 4, the Lopes clinched the match with a Valentin Lang win at No. 3 in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Nevada made the final score 4-3 with a win at No. 6 over Freddie Grant.

GCU moves onto the semifinals and will take on host school UC Davis (5-10) tomorrow in front of their home crowd at Davis, Calif. The Aggies advanced to the semis with a shutout win over fellow WAC school Seattle U, 7-0. That match will begin at 3 p.m. (MST).