ODESSA, Texas (January 17, 2025) – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its 2025 preseason rankings with UT Permian Basin men's tennis tied for 25th in the national poll. Last season, the Falcons finished 24th in the national rankings and earned their first-ever bid to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before ending their season against Columbus State University. This year, the Falcons' Spring season starts under new Head Coach Chris Tolson on January 31-February 1 at Ottawa University Arizona and Arizona Christian University.

UTPB is tied in the national poll with Southern Arkansas, who they will play this season on March 9, while other Lone Star Conference teams appearing in the poll include No. 15 UT Tyler and No. 19 Midwestern State.

The Falcons also had one singles player and two doubles teams make the preseason rankings in the South Central Region. Lucas Nitzschke is tied for No. 11 in singles while in doubles, Jonas Krahofer and Sergio Alejandro Gonzalez Ibanez are ranked No. 5 and Jonathan Vega and Nitzschke are No. 10.

UTPB is looking to keep the standards from the 2023-24 season that finished at the NCAA National Tournament in Orlando, Florida. The Falcons are coming off a season in which they finished with a 20-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the Lone Star Conference, tied for first place in the LSC in the regular season, and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. UTPB would also finish the season ranked No. 24 in the nation in the ITA rankings.

In 2023-24, Vega was named second-team all-conference in both singles (20-3) and doubles (15-8) while Nitzschke was honorable mention in doubles (26-8).

The UTPB men accumulated 22 singles wins and 19 losses in the 2024 Fall season, led by Nitzschke at 5-1. At the ITA South Central Regional Championships, Nitzschke advance to the round of 16. In doubles play, the team has collectively earned 13 wins and 11 losses, led by Krahofer/Gonzalez Ibanez at 5-1 and Vega/Nitzschke at 3-2. At the ITA Championships, No. 3-seeded Krahofer/Gonzalez Ibanez advanced to the semifinals of the main draw while Vega/Nitzschke advanced to the semifinals of the back draw.

"It feels good to have the team recognized as a top 25-team in the nation," said Tolson. "This team made an awesome run last year and with the hard work they put in this Fall, the lessons they learned in last year's run at regionals and nationals against the top teams in the nation and with our senior leadership, we are excited to try and make an even deeper run at Nationals this year."