GCU sits 2 wins away from return to NCAAs

Friday, April 19

Harlingen, Texas

7 a.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

Abilene Christian

4/18/2024 10:29:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Lopes enter WAC Tournament as No. 2 seed, look for 1st title since 2021

By: Josh Hauser

The Grand Canyon men's tennis team opens its WAC Tournament participation on Friday morning in Harlingen, Texas. The Lopes are the No. 2 seed and will open tournament action on Friday at 7 a.m. (Phoenix time) against No. 3 seed Abilene Christian.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

GCU went 3-1 in WAC play to earn the No. 2 seed in the tournament field. The Lopes' only loss came at the hands of top-seeded UT Arlington, a narrow 4-3 decision on the road. GCU opened WAC play with a 5-2 victory at UT Rio Grande Valley on March 28. The Lopes closed out the conference schedule with home wins against Abilene Christian (5-2) and Seattle U (7-0).

The Lopes are playing their best tennis late this season under second-year head coach Derek Siddiqui. Led by All-WAC players in graduate Gerhard Sullwald and sophomore David Wekesa, GCU enters the conference tournament having won five of its last six matches. The Lopes flipped their 3-11 record they held on March 16 to an 8-12 record after nonconference wins against UNLV and Dayton and a 3-1 WAC schedule.

THE PATH THAT AWAITS

Friday, April 19 at 7 a.m. (Phoenix time) | Semifinals
GCU vs. No. 3 Abilene Christian
Live Stats | Watch on ESPN+

Saturday, April 20 at 7 a.m. (Phoenix time) | Final
GCU (if advanced) vs. winner of No. 1 UT Arlington / No. 5 UT Rio Grande Valley
Live Stats | Watch on ESPN+

GCU'S TOURNAMENT HISTORY

LAST TOURNEY TITLE: GCU claimed the 2021 WAC Men's Tennis Tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Lopes shut out No. 4 Chicago State in the semifinal. In a tightly contested championship match against No. 2 seed New Mexico State, GCU snuck out of Las Cruces, New Mexico, with a 4-3 win over the host Aggies.

TOTAL WAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS: In sum, the Lopes have won two WAC Tournament titles. GCU won the 2019 WAC Tournament in its second season of Division I postseason eligibility before following it up in 2021.

WHAT'S ON THE LINE

The winner of the 2024 WAC Tennis Tournament grabs the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. The selection show is on Monday, April 29, at 3 p.m. (Phoenix time) on NCAA.com.