Baylor Men's Tennis Stuns No. 8 Texas A&M in Statement Win
WACO, Texas - Don’t let the rankings fool you-No. 19 Baylor came out swinging Monday night and made a loud statement at the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center, toppling No. 8 Texas A&M in a gritty 4-1 victory that showcased depth, resilience, and a whole lot of fight.
This wasn’t just a win-it was Baylor’s first ranked victory of the season and their first over a top-10 opponent since last year’s ITA Indoor Championships, when they knocked off then-No. 7 Duke. And while the final score reads 4-1, this one had all the tension and intensity of a championship-caliber clash.
Early Doubles Setback, But Singles Dominance
The night didn’t start in Baylor’s favor. Texas A&M came out sharp in doubles, clinching the opening point with wins on Courts One and Three.
The Bears did get a quick spark from the pairing of Alexandru Chirita and Zsombor Velcz, who rolled to a 6-2 win on Court Two, but the Aggies responded with authority. On Court One, Theo Papamalamis and Togan Tokac overpowered Devin Badenhorst and Luc Koenig, 6-1.
Then, on Court Three, Tiago Pires and Kriish Tyagi sealed the doubles point with a 6-3 win over Blake Anderson and Connor Van Schalkwyk.
Down 0-1, the Bears needed a response-and they delivered one in emphatic fashion.
Bears Flip the Script in Singles
From the opening serves in singles play, Baylor flipped the momentum. The Bears came out aggressive and took the first set on all six courts-a tone-setting effort that had the home crowd buzzing and the Aggies on their heels.
Zsombor Velcz was the first to strike, taking care of business on Court Two with a steady 6-4, 6-4 win over Kholo Montsi. That evened the match at 1-1 and gave Baylor the spark it needed.
Next up was Luc Koenig on Court Five, who showed serious grit in a three-set battle. After dropping the second set, he regrouped and powered through to a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Togan Tokac, giving Baylor a 2-1 edge.
Then came Connor Van Schalkwyk on Court Three. In a tight match that could’ve swung either way, Van Schalkwyk held his nerve in a second-set tiebreak, closing it out 6-4, 7-6(3) to put Baylor within one point of the upset.
That clinching moment came from Alexandru Chirita on Court Four, and it was a rollercoaster. After a strong first set, Chirita dropped the second but found another gear in the third to take down Tiago Pires, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. With that, the Bears had their fourth point-and the upset was complete.
Coach Woodson Praises “Incredible Effort”
After the match, head coach Michael Woodson didn’t hold back in praising both the team and the electric crowd that packed the Hawkins Indoor Center.
“I have to thank the crowd,” Woodson said. “It was an incredible environment.
You don’t expect Monday nights to be this loud, but the energy was insane-Greek life, the women’s soccer team, people out cooking. That kind of support makes a difference.”
Woodson also highlighted the team’s effort in singles, especially against a top-10 opponent like Texas A&M.
“When you take all six first sets off a team like that, it’s an incredible effort,” he said. “Of course, they fought back-they’re a great team-but we did a good job of not letting it get away from us.”
Looking Ahead
With the win, Baylor builds serious momentum heading into the ITA National Indoor Championship, which kicks off Friday in Waco. The Bears will stay home and look to ride this wave into the weekend, where the competition will only get tougher.
But if Monday night is any indication, this Baylor squad has the grit, talent, and depth to hang with anyone in the country-and they’re just getting started.
Match Results
Doubles:
- Court 1: Papamalamis/Tokac (A&M) def.
Badenhorst/Koenig (BU), 6-1
- Court 2: Chirita/Velcz (BU) def.
Furinsa/Montsi (A&M), 6-2
- Court 3: Pires/Tyagi (A&M) def.
Anderson/Van Schalkwyk (BU), 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles:
- Court 1: #17 Badenhorst (BU) vs.
Papamalamis (A&M), 7-5, 5-7, 2-1 (unfinished)
- Court 2: Velcz (BU) def.
Montsi (A&M), 6-4, 6-4
- Court 3: #41 Van Schalkwyk (BU) def.
Furinsa (A&M), 6-4, 7-6(3)
- Court 4: #99 Chirita (BU) def.
Pires (A&M), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
- Court 5: Koenig (BU) def.
Tokac (A&M), 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
- Court 6: Bowden (BU) vs.
Tyagi (A&M), 6-0, 3-6, 4-4 (unfinished)
Order of finish: 2, 5, 3, 4
Final Score: Baylor 4, Texas A&M 1
The Bears didn’t just beat a top-10 team-they sent a message. This Baylor team is for real.