SAN ANTONIO – The battle for first place is on the line as the University of the Incarnate Word men's tennis team hosts fellow undefeated Abilene Christian on "Senior Day," Saturday, Apr. 14 at 11 a.m. from Mabry Tennis Center. Saturday will mark the final home match for Joey Vatanadilok.
 
BATTLE FOR FIRST
 
Both the Cardinals (10-9 overall, 4-0 SLC) and Wildcats (14-8, 3-0) are undefeated in Southland Conference play. ACU ends conference play Apr. 16 at TAMUCC, but Saturday's match all but likely will determine the number one seed entering the upcoming SLC Tournament.
 
THE OPPONENT
 
ACU has not played since Mar. 24, but it enters Saturday's match winners of five straight. The Wildcats were victorious at New Orleans, 5-2. All three of ACU's conference wins have come on the road: Nicholls (6-1) on Feb. 26 and Lamar (5-2) on Mar. 21.
 
ACU's 1-2 brotherly punch of Josh Sheehy (13-5 in #1 singles) and Jonathan Sheehy (11-6 in #2 singles) are a combined 27-11 on the season. The duo of Henry Adams and Brad Gleason are 7-5 this season, playing in either #2 or #3 doubles.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
UIW has won three straight and seven of its last nine matches, with the only losses coming at No. 24 Baylor. The Cardinals' last victory was a thriller, 4-3, over previously unbeaten Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Apr. 10, as former SLC Player of the Week, Gabriel Evans, won the clinching point at #1 singles.
 
Two-time SLC Player of the Week recipient, Paco Bendana, is 11-8 on the season, as he and Evans (12-7) have traded #1 or #2 singles courts. Sebastian Mortier is 11-8, primarily playing in the #3 position. Both Mortier and Evans are 4-0 in conference singles competition.
 
Evans and Mortier are 10-8 and 3-0 in SLC play playing at either #1 or #2 doubles. Bendana and Vatanadilok are 8-6 overall, but a staggering 7-2 in the #2 doubles position.
 
UP NEXT
 
The 2018 Southland Conference Men's Tennis Tournament, hosted by Lamar University, is scheduled for Apr. 27-29, at the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center.

To purchase tickets, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.