INDIANAPOLIS - The top-ranked Columbus State University tennis team continued its march towards a third straight ITA DII National Indoor Championship title on Saturday by taking down No. 9 Saint Leo University 4-0 in the semifinal round. The tournament is being played at the UINDY Tennis Center in Indianapolis.

CSU improves to 10-0 all-time in the event with the win.

"This was a tighter match than the score will indicate," commented head coach Evan Isaacs. "Give credit to our guys for the tough doubles point that gave us the mometum we needed. We got to stay focus and get ready for another battle tomorrow."

SLU (3-2) was close to taking the first point from Columbus State in ITA National Indoor play in doubles play, but Tommaso Schold and Christian Garay had other ideas. In a tiebreak, the Cougar duo outasted Vincent Thiel and Bradley Eidenmuller 7-6 (7-5) to put the Cougars up 1-0. Alvaro Regalado and Pietro Martinetti were also 7-5 winners for CSU at the top spot over Bruno Faletto and Willem van den Akker. 

In singles play, Columbus State (6-0) found wins at the second, fourth and fifth spots to secure the victory. Javier Cueto Ramos, Garay and Martinetti finished their respective matches within two minutes from each other to send the Cougars to the championship.  

Cueto Ramos and Martinetti each took their match by the score of 6-2, 6-3. Cueto Ramos took down Nicolas Bacella at second singles, while Martinetti defeated Luis Iriate at fifth singles. Garay took care of Ghali Mensour 6-3, 6-1 to finish off fourth singles. 

CSU was a down a set in the three unfinished matches.

UP NEXT
Columbus State and No. 5 Barry University will square off for the 2022 ITA National Indoor Championship on Sunday beginning at 2:30 p.m. The two teams have met in the past three NCAA DII National Championship matches.

RESULTS - (played at the UINDY Tennis Center)

Singles
1. #1 Alvaro Regalado (CSU) vs. #27 Bruno Faletto (SLU) - 5-7, 3-1, unfinished
2. #8 Javier Cueto Ramos (CSU) def. Nicolas Bacella (SLU) - 6-2, 6-3
3. Tommaso Schold (CSU) vs. #45 Vincent Thiel (SLU) - 5-7, 1-1, unfinished
4. Christian Garay (CSU) def. Ghali Mensour (SLU) - 6-3, 6-1
5. #36 Pietro Martinetti (CSU) def. Luis Iriarte (SLU) - 6-2, 6-3
6. Felix Steen (CSU) vs. Bradley Eidenmuller (SLU) - 3-6, 3-1, unfinished

Doubles
1. Regalado/Martinetti (CSU) def. Willem van den Akker/Faletto (SLU) - 7-5
2. Schold/Garay (CSU) def. Eidenmuller/Thiel - 7-6 (7-5)
3. Iriarte/Nicolas Bacella (SLU) def.Cueto Ramos/Steen (CSU) - 6-3