TYLER, Texas (April 26, 2025) – The No. 47 University of Texas Permian Basin men's tennis team took on the challenge of playing on the road at No. 8 nationally-ranked The University of Texas at Tyler, and the Falcons' No. 1 player, Jonathan Vega, was the highlight of the day with a top-10 win at No. 1 singles. In the end, the Falcons fell 5-2 to the Patriots.

UTPB fell in all three doubles matches, but No. 29 nationally-ranked Vega and Jonas Krahofer gave the No. 6-ranked doubles pair Carel Wessel and Daniil Felker all they could handle in a 7-6 (7-5) tiebreak defeat at No. 1 doubles.

Four of the six singles matches went to three sets, highlighted of course by a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback win for No. 35-ranked Vega over No. 6-ranked Wessel in the top spot. It was Vega's fifth win against a nationally-ranked opponent this season, and was his fourth win against an opponent who is currently ranked within the top-20 nationally in singles in NCAA Division II. In addition to beating No. 6 on Saturday, he also has wins over the players ranked No. 4 and No. 11 in the country at the time.

Also earning a three-set victory was Lucas Nitzschke with a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) comeback win himself over Job Japelj at No. 6 singles.

In the other two three-set matches, Sergio Alejandro Gonzalez Ibanez fell 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 against Malo Poulesquen at No. 4 singles while Krahofer lost in comeback fashion, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, against Jordi Garcia Portell at No. 5 singles.
 
Results:
Doubles

• #1 – No. 6 Carel Wessel/Daniil Felker (UT Tyler) def. No. 29 Jonathan Vega/Jonas Krahofer (UTPB) 7-6 (7-5)
• #2 – Artiom Dorofeev/Malo Poulesquen (UT Tyler) def. Grzegorz Rudnicki/Florian Kralik (UTPB) 6-3
• #3 – Job Japelj/Trevor Short (UT Tyler) def. Sergio Alejandro Gonzalez Ibanez/Lucas Nitzschke (UTPB) 6-4

Singles

• #1 – No. 35 Jonathan Vega (UTPB) def. No. 6 Carel Wessel (UT Tyler) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
• #2 – No. 15 Artiom Dorofeev (UT Tyler) def. Lucas Nakasato (UTPB) 6-1, 6-4
• #3 – Martin Despodov (UT Tyler) def. Grzegorz Rudnicki (UTPB) 6-3, 6-3
• #4 – Malo Poulesquen (UT Tyler) def. Sergio Alejandro Gonzalez Ibanez (UTPB) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
• #5 – Jordi Garcia Portell (UT Tyler) def. Jonas Krahofer (UTPB) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
• #6 – Lucas Nitzschke (UTPB) def. Job Japelj (UT Tyler) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)

Team Records:

• UTPB falls to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in the Lone Star Conference, and has one match remaining in an effort to try and take third place in the LSC standings. With one day remaining in the regular season, No. 47 UTPB sits in a three-team tie for third place with No. 24 Midwestern State University (12-5, 4-3) and No. 49 St. Mary's University (9-8, 4-3). The Mustangs and the Rattlers play each other on Sunday, meaning only one of those teams can finish 5-3. UTPB earned a big 5-2 win over MSU earlier this season but fell 4-3 vs. StMU in the very next match.
• UT Tyler reaches the 20-win mark overall (20-1) and remains tied for first place in the LSC at 7-0. The Patriots' lone loss so far this season was a 5-2 decision at home against No. 2 the University of West Florida on February 28. The Patriots are back in action on Sunday afternoon, against No. 5 Lubbock Christian at the Summers Tennis Center. The men's match will also double as a match for the Lone Star Conference regular-season title. The Patriots have won two regular season titles in their first four years of competition in the league.

 
Next Up: UTPB will close out the regular season at Dallas Baptist University starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. A win would give the Falcons at least a share of third place in the Lone Star Conference.