Lopes host GCU Invitational

Both Grand Canyon tennis teams will be in action this weekend at the Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale for the sixth annual GCU Invitational.

The men's and women's Lopes teams will compete in a hidden dual format, playing teams in a doubles and singles format similar to the spring season. The matches will start on Friday at 10 a.m. and will run through Sunday afternoon.

The men will compete against Azusa Pacific, Abilene Christian and a mixed team of GCU and Abilene Christian players as the third opponent.

For the women, the Lopes will face Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado and another mixed GCU and Northern Colorado team.

Both teams are coming off appearances in the ITA Southwest Regional. The men, competing at Pepperdine, performed well in singles. Seniors Valentin Lang and Lorenzo Fucile advanced to the round of 32 in the main draw. Lang and Fucile defeated UC Irvine's Mike Mrchian and Aaron Bailey, respectively, in straight sets to advance. Freshman Can Franke and junior Freddie Grant also picked up singles wins.

For the women, freshman Natasha Puehse advanced to the round of 16 in singles after consecutive 6-2, 6-3 wins off Maria Tyrina of San Diego and Ekaterina Repina of Cal State Northridge. Puehse fell to No. 7 seed Daria Kuczer of Pepperdine 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

The GCU Invitational will be the final fall event for the men while the women will wrap things up next weekend at the CSUN Fall Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

Can Franke

Lorenzo Fucile

Freddie Grant

Valentin Lang

Natasha Puehse

Grand Canyon University Athletics