By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – Welcome to college tennis Valdez brothers.

Alan Valdez and Carlos Valdez, a pair of freshmen from LaGrange, both won singles matches on Saturday to help LaGrange College’s men’s tennis team open the 2017-2018 season with a 6-3 victory over Emory-Oxford.

Alan Valdez, the Panthers’ number three singles player, provided the decisive point when he won his match 6-0, 6-2 at number three singles.

Alan Valdez was also a part of the number one doubles team along with Mitchell Corley that dropped a close decision at number one doubles.

Carlos Valdez won his match at number four singles.

The Valdez brothers, who were home-schooled, both decided to attend LaGrange College and play tennis, and they were recognized during a celebration at the McCluskey Tennis Center in the spring.

The brothers were highly accomplished junior players, and they’re jumping right into the LaGrange College lineup as freshmen.

Alan Valdez said he’s glad he’s able to take this college journey with his brother.

“We mainly wanted to stay together right now,” he said. “We didn’t want to split up yet.”

Added Carlos Valdez: “I didn’t want to go too far. I was pretty much set on LaGrange. It worked out well.”

LaGrange College continues the season this weekend in the McWilliams Invitational in Montgomery, Ala.

SOCCER: Qua Tucker, a junior from LaGrange High, is primarily a defensive player for LaGrange College, but he knows what to do with the ball when he gets a chance to score.

Tucker scored one of his team’s six goals during a 6-0 victory over Toccoa Falls last week.

Tucker has started each of the Panthers’ three games this season, and he has helped the team get off to a 2-1 start.

Tucker played in all 17 of the Panthers’ matches a year ago, and he scored his first collegiate goal in a tie with William Peace.

As a freshman in 2015, Tucker played in 13 matches with 10 starts.