PUEBLO, Colo. (April. 25, 2019) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo Men's Tennis Team lost 5-2 in their final home game of the season against Metro State University of Denver Tuesday at Pueblo City Park.

This was the ThunderWolves' final home match this season and also their last game in spring play. Conditions were tough for both teams as the wind was swirling throughout doubles and singles play. 
Before taking to the court, the Pack honored three seniors who have shown and invested total commitment to the CSU-Pueblo Tennis program. The three graduating seniors are, James Ryan (Rustington, Sussex, UK), Ogulcan Deniz (Istanbul, Turkey) and Dante Alcala (Pueblo, Colo.). 

Doubles began with the Pack coming out firing against the Roadrunners. The freshman British partnership of Richard Garcia (Fr., Surrey, UK) and Edward Cooper (Fr., Bolton, UK) won 6-1 at No. 2. The ThunderWovles couldn't find an extra win at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, resulting in the Roadrunners securing the doubles point.

Singles play commenced and MSU Denver took the doubles point momentum in the early start of singles play. Four out the six singles matches for the Pack resulted in a first set loss making the task to earn four singles wins an uphill battle. 

Nevertheless, Rafael Abreu (Jr., Piedade, Brazil) and Cooper posted three set victories over the traveling team. Cooper won at No. 3 after winning the first set 7-5. He suffered a 1-6 loss in set two, but prevailed in the third set tiebreaker, 10-8. Abreu also won his first set, as he collected a 6-0 sweep at the No. 6 position. He lost 4-6 in set two, then came through with a 10-2 breaker win. 
Alcala pushed the No. 5 spot to three sets, but just fell short, 10-6, in the tiebreaker. Ryan played a tricky opponent who utilized its net game and serve to his advantage with the match being decided by one break in both sets. 

The match was the conclusion of the season, as the ThunderWolves ended 3-15 overall.

MSU Denver 5, CSU-Pueblo 2

Singles Competition

1. Joey Tscherne (MSUD) def. Daniel Garcia (CSUPM) 6-1, 6-4

2. Daniel Llorente (MSUD) def. Ogulcan Deniz (CSUPM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1

3. Edward Cooper (CSUPM) def. A. Martinez-Morilla (MSUD) 7-5, 1-6, 10-8

4. Mateo Besada (MSUD) def. James Ryan (CSUPM) 6-4, 6-4

5. David Kijak (MSUD) def. Dante Alcala (CSUPM) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 10-7

6. Rafael Abreu (CSUPM) def. Kacey Walisundara (MSUD) 6-0, 4-6, 10-2

Doubles Competition

1. Joey Tscherne/Mateo Besada (MSUD) def. Daniel Garcia/Ogulcan Deniz (CSUPM) 6-4

2. Edward Cooper/Richard Garcia (CSUPM) def. David Kijak/A. Martinez-Morilla (MSUD) 6-1

3. Kacey Walisundara/Daniel Llorente (MSUD) def. James Ryan/Dante Alcala (CSUPM) 6-3

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.