LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The top-ranked Columbus State University men's tennis team opened the 2021 season with a top-25 victory taking down No. 20 West Alabama 5-2 on Saturday. The non-conference match took place at the Vaughan Tennis Complex. 

CSU (1-0) earned the doubles point to take the early lead after winning two of the three matches. At first doubles, the All-American duo of Alvaro Regalado and Javier Cueto Ramos won their opening match of the year 6-2. Pietro Martinetti and Tommaso Schold had the other Cougar win at third doubles. The pair took down Noah Johansen and Nuutti Jokinen 6-2. Ilia Dehodiuk and Patricio Nieto had the West Alabama victory as they edged Christian Garay and Felix Steen 7-6.

The Tigers (0-1) made things interesting in singles play as UWA took two matches, including an upset in the marquee match. At first singles, Chridtopher Bulus defeated Regaldo 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Jokinen also recorded a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory in the fourth spot for UWA over Cueto Ramos.

The rest of the Cougar lineup all posted wins with Justin Welz the lone CSU player to post a straight-set win. Welz beat Johansen 6-3, 6-0 in the sixth spot. Garay took the opening set at second singles 6-3 but lost the second to go into the decisive third. However, the Columbus native took it 6-1 to defeat Vesanen 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. Steen took a similar route in his 6-4, 4-6, 10-5 win over Nieto at fifth singles. Schold had to rally after dropping the first set in his third position. The sophomore bounced back though to record the 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

With the win, the Cougars have now won 17 straight regular-season matches dating back to the 2019 season.

Columbus State will be right back in action Sunday at Auburn University Montgomery. All the action will begin at 1 p.m. at the AUM Tennis Complex.