Doubles point decides WAC runner-up finish

Saturday, April 19

Dallas, Texas / Styslinger / Altec Tennis Complex

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Abilene Christian

4/19/2025 8:45:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Lopes lose in back-to-back WAC Tournament championships

By: Braden Dohrmann

DALLAS — Top-seeded Grand Canyon men's tennis came up just short in the WAC Tournament championship, falling 4-2 to third-seeded Abilene Christian on Saturday at Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex.

The Lopes (13-7) dropped the doubles point in a competitive start to the match. GCU senior Jonathan Da Silva and sophomore Brice Patoux fell 6-3 on Court 1. However, with a win on Court 3 by Lopes freshman Andreas Loizas and senior Paolo Rosati (6-4), the crucial doubles point came down to Court 2. ACU earned it with a 7-6 (7-1) win over freshman Diordan Macababbad and sophomore Nikita Volonski.

GCU responded strongly in singles play. Macababbad put the Lopes on the board with a 6-3, 6-3 victory on Court 5, and Patoux followed to even the team score again at 2-2 with a composed 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) win on Court 2.

However, ACU rallied to three-set victories on Courts 4 and 6 to clinch the match. Tomas Tischner battled back to defeat Da Silva 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, on Court 4 and Benjamin McDonald overcame an early deficit to take down GCU freshman Finbar McGarvey 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, clinching the championship for the Wildcats.

Loizas' match on Court 3 was left unfinished in a tight third set with the freshman leading 5-3, meaning the doubles point was more than likely the difference.

The WAC All-Tournament included Patoux, Loizas and Macababbad, who are expected to return next season with a bright future for the head coach Derek Siddiqui's ascending program.

The loss ends GCU's WAC Tournament run in the championship for the second straight season. Grand Canyon lost 4-3 to UT Arlington in last year's title dual.

While the result will be a tough pill to swallow, there is a lot to celebrate on the season.

The Lopes cracked the ITA's top 75 for the first time in program history, secured double-digit wins and fought through an injury-plagued season.

With a young nucleus and the return of injured David Wekesa in 2025-26, the Lopes will vie to be in conference contention again in no time.