BATON ROUGE, La.- The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (14-7, 8-0 SWAC) men’s tennis team concluded the 2009 Southwestern Athletic Conference West Round-up with a perfect 3-0 record capping off what has been an undefeated run in conference play thus far.
“This team has an enormous amount of potential,” said head men’s tennis coach Robert Cain. “If they continue to stay focused the possibilities for this young group is limitless.”
On day one of the tournament the Golden Lions defeated Prairie View A&M 5-2 and Southern 5-2 en route to a perfect showing for the day. Grambling State also went undefeated on day one setting up a match-up of two unbeaten teams going into the last and final day of tourney play.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff captured a 4-3 decision over the Tigers in what was an intense meeting for both teams. The contest was decided during the final match as UAPB’s Andres Rio Bueno emerged victorious. With the victory UAPB now stands as the SWAC West Regular Champions and the only undefeated team in conference play at 7-0.
“I’ve watched this team improve steadily over the course of this season,” said Cain. “The caliber of tennis this team is playing right now is a result of their hard work and determination to improve on a daily basis.”
Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s men’s tennis team has been equally impressive off the tennis court as the team also currently boast a 3.09 overall G.P.A.
“Our men’s tennis team has committed to excellence both on and off the court,” said UAPB Athletics Director Louis B. "Skip" Perkins Jr. “Their success is a testament to the type of student-athletes coach Cain has brought in to play at the University and we expect continued greatness out of this group of young men athletically and academically now and for years to come.”
UAPB will spend the next three weeks in preparation for the 2009 SWAC Tennis Championships which will be held April 16th thru 19th. The four day tournament will be hosted in Alexandria, Louisiana with match times set to be announced in the coming weeks.