LAWTON, Okla. (GoThunderWolves.com – Mar. 1, 2014) — With a new look roster, the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves began the spring men's tennis season against some of the toughest teams in the country at the Cameron Aggie Classic. Playing four matches, including an exhibition, over two days at the Streich-Henry Family Tennis Complex, the Pack came back winless as a team but did have several bright spots.
On Friday against 28th-ranked Ouchita Baptist (Ark.), the Tigers led 2-1 after the doubles matches before splitting the six singles matches evenly to pull out a 5-4 win. Sergio Avella (Fr., Sogamoso, Colombia) and Joao De Silveria (Fr., Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Alexandro Moncayo-Samperio (Sr., Veracruz, Mexico) were the singles winners for the ThunderWolves at the No. 3, 5 and 6 spots. Avella claimed a 6-4, 6-3 win over Teodor Anghel Valentin while Moncayo-Samperio claimed a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Nathan Street.
The pair had earlier claimed an 8-3 win in the No. 3 doubles match over Andre Stefano and Street.
De Silveria, who went 2-1 in the regular-season singles matches over the weekend, posted a 3-set, 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 win over Stefano at No. 5.
The Tigers, ranked second in the Central Region, improved to 3-3 with the win.
On Friday afternoon, the Pack got out to a good start winning two of the three doubles matches before 16th-ranked Cameron won all six singles matches in straight sets to win their 13th straight home match, 7-2. Saul Shrom (Sr., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) and De Silveria were 8-4 winners in the No. 1 doubles match over Felipe Oyarzun and Rory de Boer while Avella and Moncayo-Samperio won their No. 3 match over Joao Fazendeiro and Andres Velasco by an 8-6 margin.
The Aggies, ranked first in the Central Region, improved to 6-2 with the win.
On Saturday, the Pack fell 8-1 to East Central (Okla.), ranked ninth in the Central Region. The Tigers won all three doubles matches before De Silveria claimed the Pack's point at No. 5 singles with a 6-2, 6-7 (7-3), 10-7 win over Nate Kipping. East Central improved to 4-2 with the victory.
The Pack then dropped a 5-0 decision to NJCAA power Seminole State (Okla.) in a Saturday afternoon exhibition match.
The ThunderWolves will now return home to Colorado to begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at Colorado Christian on Friday before taking on Division I Air Force on Saturday. The Pack then begin a jam-packed stretch of home matches on Sunday hosting Colorado College at 9 a.m. and St. Edward's (Texas) at 1 p.m.
