MIDLAND, Texas (April 5, 2025) – After moving back into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national rankings this week, The No. 34-ranked University of Texas Permian Basin men's tennis team led 3-2, but could not close out the win and dropped the final two singles matches in three-setters in what was ultimately a 4-3 defeat against No. 47-ranked St. Mary's University on Saturday in the Falcons' first match this season at the Bush Tennis Center.

UTPB won the doubles point as Sergio Alejandro Gonzalez Ibanez and Lucas Nitzschke swept Lincoln Baldonado and Bernhard Hauer 6-0 in the first match at No. 3 doubles, and then in the final doubles match at No. 1 doubles, the No. 18 nationally-ranked doubles pair of Jonas Krahofer and Jonathan Vega defeated Leonardo Fabbri and Alvaro Soler by a score of 6-4.

In singles, Vega (No. 33 nationally-ranked) gave UTPB a 2-1 lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Fabbri in the top spot, and then Gonzalez Ibanez gave the Falcons a 3-2 lead with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 win over Pierre Copin at No. 4 singles.

In the final two matches, UTPB dropped the first set before winning the second set in deciding fashion to force a third set. At No. 5 singles, Krahofer fell 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Hauer. At No. 6 singles, Nitzschke fell against Baldonado, 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-4.
 
Results:
Doubles

• #1 – No. 18 Jonas Krahofer/Jonathan Vega (UTPB) def. Leonardo Fabbri/Alvaro Soler (StMU) 6-4
• #2 – Lucas Castillo Sanchez/Pierre Copin (StMU) def. Florian Kralik/Grzegorz Rudnicki (UTPB) 6-2
• #3 – Sergio Alejandro Gonzalez Ibanez/Lucas Nitzschke (UTPB) def. Lincoln Baldonado/Bernhard Hauer (StMU) 6-0

Singles

• #1 – No. 33 Jonathan Vega (UTPB) def. Leonardo Fabbri (StMU) 6-2, 6-2
• #2 – Lucas Castillo Sanchez (StMU) def. Lucas Nakasato (UTPB) 6-0, 6-0
• #3 – Alvaro Soler (StMU) def. Grzegorz Rudnicki (UTPB) 6-3, 6-0
• #4 – Sergio Alejandro Gonzalez Ibanez (UTPB) def. Pierre Copin (StMU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
• #5 – Bernhard Hauer (StMU) def. Jonas Krahofer (UTPB) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
• #6 – Lincoln Baldonado (StMU) def. Lucas Nitzschke (UTPB) 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-4

Team Records:

• After entering the weekend as one of three teams at 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference, UTPB falls to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in the LSC. UTPB previously defeated St. Mary's 5-2 during each of the last two seasons.
• St. Mary's improves to 8-6 and 3-1 after previously falling 7-0 at No. 5 Lubbock Christian University this past Thursday.
• The Rattlers are 11-2 all-time against UT Permian Basin.

 
Next Up: Weather in the Texas Panhandle forced UTPB's match with Lubbock Christian University to be moved from Friday, April 4, to Sunday, April 6. The Falcons will now play in their first LSC road match of the season against the No. 5 nationally-ranked Chaparrals beginning at approximately 3 p.m. (after the women's match) in Lubbock, Texas.