GCU doubles pair closes in on NCAAs

Friday, October 25

Abilene, Texas

Grand Canyon

WAC Tennis Invitational

10/29/2024 5:54:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Lopes' Patoux/Wekesa team qualifies for ITA Conference Masters

By: Braden Dohrmann

GCU found plenty of success in the WAC Tennis Invitational over the weekend in Abilene, Texas.

The WAC Invitational held plenty of importance as a pathway to the ITA Conference Masters Tournament, and the Lopes pairing of junior David Wekesa and sophomore Brice Patoux capitalized on it with a doubles titles.

The Conference Masters is one of the final entry opportunities into the NCAA Individual Championships, which will take place in the fall this season.

Sophomore Nikita Volonski and freshman Andreas Loizas competed on behalf of GCU in singles.

While Loizas dropped his quarterfinal match, Volonski won 6-4, 6-4 over Martin Delnido of Abilene Christian. Nikita followed that performance with another victory the next day over UT Arlington's Pedro Sasso: 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.

Saturday was an undefeated day for the GCU program, as the doubles side snagged a semifinals victory over the Seattle U pairing of Jun Sasagawa and Filip Stipic), winning 6-3, 6-4.

Championship Sunday presented an opportunity for tickets punched to the ITA Conference Masters in singles and doubles. Volonski fell 6-4, 6-2 in the championship match to UT Arlington's Andres Medus.

Patoux and Wekesa dropped the first set in their championship bout, but fought back and dominated the third-set tiebreaker to win 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-4).

The doubles pair will compete in the ITA Conference Masters Tournament in Rome, Georgia, on Nov. 7-10. Wekesa and Patoux will have an opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Championships through the event.