What started out as the best start in program history has now morphed into the best season in program history for the UT Permian Basin men's tennis team. The team is currently 17-3 overall, 6-1 in conference play. 

"Going through the schedule and seeing how our roster stacked up, we were hoping our season would look like this. But, like every other sport, a lot of times it's about who shows up that day," said head coach Alex Hunt. "We are 17-3 right now but two of the losses we had were hard ones because two of the losses we had were 4-3."  

The losses the team suffered were against Southern Arkansas (Feb. 18) and No. 14 Midwestern State (Apr. 6), who is 6-0 in the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The other team the Falcons fell to was Azusa Pacific (Mar. 12) who is currently 19-0. 

"We have built up our confidence, but we also know that we have to show up every single day even when it's difficult. St. Mary's is tough, we have them on Sunday, and then we have three ridiculously hard matches in a row to try and win the conference tournament," said coach Hunt. "I like where we are at mentally right now." 

Night and day 

A lot has changed with the UTPB men's tennis program, who at this time last season, was 11-8 overall.  

After last season, Coach Hunt, Assistant Coach Joshua Lopez, and the team identified and addressed areas for improvement. Going into this season, the team came together and started having the success the coaches knew they could have.  

"We have the same talent as last year, it's just now everyone is clicking and we are on the same page," said Coach Hunt. "I think their heads are in a better place this year, and they are gelling as a team." 

The team gelling this season has resulted in them winning LSC player of the week four times, being ranked 29th as a team in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) collegiate tennis rankings, and the team receiving consideration in the first NCAA Division II South Central Region Rankings. 

Additionally, Takumi Katsuda and Jonas Krahofer are currently ranked the 16th men's doubles team in the nation and Vitaliy Horovoy is ranked the 20th men's single player in the ITA rankings.  

Falcons return to the nest 

The Falcons will be home for the final time this season on Sunday (Apr. 21), as they take on St. Mary's at 10 a.m., at the Bush Tennis Center in Midland for senior day. 

"The mentality we have had all year long, is we go out there for a 7-0 win," said coach Hunt. "There is a pressure on every single doubles line and every single singles line, that your job is to win. You can't rely on anybody else to win. That's always our expectation." 

After St. Mary's, the Falcons will get ready for the Lone Star Conference Championships which will start on Thursday, April 25 and conclude on Saturday, April 27.  

The top eight teams out of the nine in the LSC will play in the tournament with every match being to clinch. But, with the tough talent top to bottom in the conference, Coach Hunt believes there will be some 4-3 matches.