LUBBOCK, Texas (March 15, 2023) - The Lubbock Christian University men's tennis team split their four matches on a Spring Break four-match road trip of non-conference duals, which included Martins Abamu going 4-0 in his singles matches. The Chaps fell to Newman and Rockhurst, but collected wins over Emporia State and William Jewell College.
 
vs. NU
Opening the trip in Wichita, Kan., LCU had a 1-0 dual lead after claiming the doubles point in dramatic fashion. LCU had a No.1 doubles win with Braden Tipton / Kelly Giese winning their match, but Newman won the No.2 singles match to even the doubles score at 1-1. Carlos / Gutierrez / Herman Aguirre occupied the LCU team in No.3 doubles play and they were able to win the tiebreaker 10-8 to win the match 7-6 to clinch the point for LCU.
 
Newman won the No.5 and No.4 singles matches to take a 2-1 lead before LCU stormed back with Aguirre winning the No. 3 singles match and No.19 Martin Abamu getting a No.1 singles win for a 3-2 dual lead. LCU was unable to claim the needed-third singles win, as the No.2 and No.6 singles matches were claimed by the Jets, who won the dual 4-3.
 
vs. ESU
The Chaps were able to bounce back in Emporia, Kan. and they set the tone early by winning the doubles point. Kelly Giese / Braden Tipton claimed a win over No.43 Theo Belmonte / Sergio Vera in the No.1 doubles and the doubles point was claimed when Nikita Deev / Abamu teamed to win their match with the tiebreaker victory.
 
The two teams played to clinch and that was wrapped up in the first three singles matches, as LCU swept the Hornets for a 4-0 dual victory. Abamu won No.1 singles, Giese won No.2 singles and Aguirre won a three-set match to win the No.3 singles.
 
vs. WJC
LCU took the momentum into Liberty, Mo., where they topped William Jewell College 6-1. It took all three doubles matches to be played, as Giese/Tipton won No.1 doubles in the first doubles match to end. It came down to the No.3 doubles match, which LCU's team of Deev / Alex Donnelly won to claim the doubles point.
 
LCU won five of the six singles matches, winning the first five completed, as they led 6-0. The marquee singles match was the No.1 singles match, which had Abamu defeat No.42 Ugnius Bickauskis in three sets. Giese (No.2 singles), Aguirre (No.3 singles), Deev (No.4 singles) and Tipton (No.5 singles) each won their singles matches.
 
vs. RU
LCU wrapped up their trip in North Kansas City, Mo., where they suffered a 4-2 loss. Rockhurst swept doubles play to head into singles leading 1-0.
 
The dual was tied 2-2 after LCU's Giese claimed a straight-set win in No.2 singles and Abamu defeated No.68 Louis Keiner in the No.1 singles match. Playing to clinch, the match ended at 4-2 after Rockhurst claimed the No.4 and No.5 singles matches.
 
In Summary
The Chaps have a 7-5 record in duals following the four matches. LCU went 12-8 in singles matches on the trip. Abamu went 4-0 in singles matches on the trip, going 2-0 against individuals nationally ranked by ITA. Aguirre and Giese each went 3-1. Giese and Tipton's doubles partnership went 3-0 on the trip. LCU returns home Mar. 28 to host Midwestern State.