It appears UT Tyler tennis coach Chris Bizot has another strong squad.
The Patriots were quite impressive in the American Southwest Conference Individual Tennis Tournament last weekend at the Summers Tennis Center.
Taking titles for the Patriot women were Jessica Blundell (Flight Two), Rachel Cole (Flight Three), Jennifer Payne (Flight Four), Mary Alice Blacketer (Flight Five) and Nicole Musngi (Flight Six) all won their singles flights, while Candyce Henwood won the Flight Eight consolation final. Teammates Janae Warren and Haley Albro will play this week to determine the women's singles Flight Seven final.
In doubles competition, the women won all four flights that were played this weekend. Taking titles were Cole-Amy Fresenhahn (Fight One), Blacketer-Blundell (Flight Two), Musngi-Payne (Flight Three) and Albro-Emily Evans (Flight Four).
The UT Tyler men's team also had a dominant showing.
Newcomer Ryan Ybarra won the Flight One singles 6-2. 6-4 over Carlos Cantu from LeTourneau, while Ryan Spencer won Flight Two with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over Mississippi College's Chris Wooton.
Kevin Singer (Flight Three), Doug Kierstead (Flight Six) and John Ward (Flight Eight) won their matchups, all in two games, while Jacob Van Der Schans won the consolation final in men's Flight Nine.
Matt Moreman and Ryan Domingues will face each other this week to find the winner of Flight Seven, while Ethan LaPlante and Matt Vecchione will do the same in the final of Flight Nine.
The men were equally impressive in doubles competition, winning all flights. The teams of Domingues-Reid and Hendrie-Kierstead will face each other to determine the winner of Flight Four this week. Other winners were Singer-Ybarra, Jon Karsten-Spencer and Matt Moreman-Ward.
The Patriot women will compete in the ITA Women's Regional Championship beginning Friday in San Antonio. UT Tyler will host the ITA Men's Regional Championship on Sept. 28-30 at the Summers Tennis Center.
Dig Pink
The UT Tyler volleyball team (6-6 overall, 1-3 American Southwest Conference) will compete in the ASC Dig Pink Crossover Tournament Friday and Saturday at Concordia University in Austin.
On Friday, the Patriots meet Hardin-Simmons at 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, UT Tyler plays Schreiner (12:30 p.m.) and Concordia (5:30 p.m.).
The tourney brings awareness to breast cancer as well. After the Austin trip, the Patriots return home to face LeTourneau on Sept. 28. The match begins at 7 p.m. at the Herrington Patriot Center.
Hitting the pitch
Patriot soccer teams will be in action Friday against LeTourneau in Longview.
The Patriot women (4-2, 1-0) play at 5 p.m., followed by the Patriot men (3-3, 0-1).
The squads return home to Citizens 1st Bank-Perkins Soccer Complex on Sept. 28 (vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor) and Sept. 29 (vs. Concordia).