SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Tuesday was a great day for University of the Incarnate Word sophomore Josip Smoljan.  First, he was named the Southland Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week and then he led the Cardinals to a 4-0 win over visiting Cameron University at the Mabry Tennis Center.

In a tightly contested 4-3 victory over Texas-San Antonio on Saturday, Smoljan came through with a pair of important victories.  A native of Citluk, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Srednja Skola), he teamed with Leo Ivic to defeat UTSA's No. 33 ranked doubles team, 8-6 to help secure the doubles point.  In singles play, Smoljan dropped the first set against Joel Rubio, but came back to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 to tie the match 3-3.

On Tuesday, Smoljan and Ivic knocked off Dennis Merdan and Angelo Lencioni at #1 doubles with an 8-2 win.  He came back with a 7-6 (9), 6-2 victory over Felipe Oyarzun at #3 singles.

The Cardinals (9-3) picked up the lone point in doubles after Jair Assuncao and Tucker Brown defeated Rory de Boer and Oyarzun, 8-3 at the #2 slot.  UIW did not drop a match in singles play as Brown and Brandon Davis each won easily in straight sets at #4 and #5, respectively.

The Cardinals are back in action on Friday at UT-Pan American for a 10 a.m. start.
 

Singles competition

1. Jair Assuncao (UIW) vs. Dennis Merdan (CU) 6-4, 6-5, unfinished

2. Leonard Ivic (UIW) vs. Rory de Boer (CU) unfinished

3. Josip Smoljan (UIW) def. Felipe Oyarzun (CU) 7-6 (11-9), 6-2

4. Tucker Brown (UIW) def. Angelo Lencioni (CU) 6-1, 6-0

5. Brandon Davis (UIW) def. Joao Fazendeiro (CU) 6-0, 6-2

6. Brody Rodriguez (UIW) vs. Dean Weigelt (CU) 2-1, unfinished

 

Doubles competition

1. Leonard Ivic/Josip Smoljan (UIW) def. Dennis Merdan/Angelo Lencioni (CU) 8-2

2. Jair Assuncao/Tucker Brown (UIW) def. Rory de Boer/Felipe Oyarzun (CU) 8-3

3. Joao Fazendeiro/Dean Weigelt (CU) def. Brandon Davis/Antonio Cavazos (UIW) 8-6

 
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