Texas Tech University Athletics
Escobar Topples Paval, Advances To Sweet Sixteen
May 24, 2012 | Men's Tennis
Gonzalo Escobar upset OU's Costin Paval in the second round of the NCAA Singles Championships.
May 24 ,2012
ATHENS, Ga. - Gonzalo Escobar is in a zone.
Escobar, who is ranked 40th nationally for Texas Tech, stuck to the game plan and upset Oklahoma's Costin Paval, 6-3, 6-4, in the round of 32 of the 2012 NCAA Men's Singles Championships at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
The win catapults Escobar into the Sweet Sixteen, giving the senior from Ecuador All-America honors. He is the first Red Raider to ever advance to the Sweet Sixteen and just the second-ever Red Raider to earn All-America status. Raony Carvalho earned the honor in 2010.
"I am so proud of Gonzalo. He has meant so much to this program for so long," said Red Raider head coach Tim Siegel. "He stuck to the game plan and did not deviate from what we had talked about and it paid off."
Escobar trailed early in the first set to Paval, 2-1, but stuck to the strategy installed by Siegel. He broke Paval's service twice and was suddenly in the driver's seat with a 5-2 lead in the first set. Paval won the next game, before Escobar closed out the set 6-3.
In the second set, Escobar jumped out to a 3-1 lead and then 4-2. Paval battled back to close the gap at 5-4, but that would be as close as he would get. Escobar closed out the match with a 6-4 win of the set.
"The last game to win the match was probably the best game Gonzalo has played all year," added Siegel. "When you look at what was riding on the match, he came through."
Escobar improved to 31-12 on the season. His 31 wins are the most in school history. He also recorded his 99th career win with the victory over Paval. It was the fifth-ever meeting between the two, but it was Escobar's first win over the Big 12 Player of the Year.
Doubles also begins play today for both the men's team of Escobar and Raony Carvalho and the women's tandem of Samantha Adams and Kenna Kilgo.
Escobar and Carvalho are set to square off with Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese of Tennessee. Adams and Kilgo will battle No. 9 Courtney Dolehide and Pamela Montez of UCLA.
Round of 32
#40 Gonzalo Escobar (TT) def. #12 Costin Paval (Oklahoma), 6-3, 6-4
