LUBBOCK, Texas (April 2, 2023) – It came down to the final singles match Sunday afternoon in Lone Star Conference dual match play for Lubbock Christian University, as Sabri Laphitz's three-set victory in No.5 singles play propelled the Chaparrals to a 4-3 win over UT Permian Basin at Penny Gullo Tennis Center.
 
LCU took a 1-0 lead in the dual by claiming the doubles point. The Chaps No.1 doubles team of Kelly Giese and Braden Tipton and No.2 team of Martins Abamu and Herman Aguirre each claimed a 6-4 set win for the match. Giese and Tipton claimed their sixth consecutive win in doubles play and are 13-5 together this season (highest win total on the squad). They improved to 9-3 in duals and 4-0 in LSC play. The "A Team" of Abamu and Aguirre won their fourth straight win together, and they move to 5-1 in duals and 3-0 in LSC duals.
 
The Chaparrals led 3-1 after Giese (No.2 singles) and Abamu (No.1 singles) completed their play with straight-set victories in singles play. UTPB responded with three-set wins in the No.3 and No.6 singles competition to tie the dual 3-3, placing the pressure in the match between Laphitz and UTPB's Roberto Garcia. Laphitz dropped the opening set 7-5, but responded with a 6-0 and 6-3 set win to claim his first singles win in LSC play (1-3), which led to LCU clinching 4-3.
 
Abamu's win improved his team lead in singles win to 18 wins (18-6). Improving to 10-3 in singles in duals, Abamu's win was his second consecutive win in a LSC dual (2-2). Giese improved to 3-1 in LSC duals (three singles wins in LSC play leads LCU).
 
The win moved LCU to 9-6 overall and they are 3-1 in LSC play. They return to play Friday in Dallas, Texas, as they face Dallas Baptist (DBU) in LSC dual match play.