Sept. 26, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - In his first career collegiate tournament, Texas Tech freshman men's tennis player Gonzalo Escobar advanced Friday to the third round of the A Draw in the Baylor HEB Invitational.

Escobar opened action with a 6-2, 6-4, victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's David Pace and followed with a 6-4, 6-3, win over TCU's Adrian Simon. He will next face Tulsa's Arnan Brugues at 9:15 a.m. Saturday.

Freshman Raony Carvalho and sophomore David Gonzalez both won opening round matches in the A Draw with Carvalho defeating Louisiana-Lafayette's Javier Pulgar-Garcia, 6-4, 6-2, while Gonzalez defeated Brett Rodgers, 6-3, 6-1, of the Air Force Academy. Both players fell in the second round, however.

Following opening round losses, seniors Christian Rojmar and Michael Breler advanced to the third round of the A Draw Consolation bracket. Rojmar defeated Texas' Josh Zavala, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (8), while Breler responded with a 6-1, 6-1, victory over Wichita State's Matt Telvens. Both players received second round byes.

In doubles action, all three of the Red Raiders' duos dropped first round matches. Escobar and Gonzales fell 8-5 to Texas A&M's duo of Chris Chirico and Wil Spencer, while the duo of Breler and Joe Hattrup went down 8-1 to Tulsa's Marko Ballok and Alberto Sottocorno. Tech's final duo of Milos Kustudija and James Wilson lost to Tulsa's other doubles team of Victor Kolik and Phil Stephens, 8-3.

Ethan Horn and James Wilson both won opening round matches in the B Draw, but were unable to advance in the second round.

The Red Raiders resume action in the Baylor HEB Invitational tomorrow and continue through Sunday.