COLUMBUS - The third-ranked Columbus State University men's tennis team recorded its third top-10 victory of the season after taking down 10th-ranked Southern Arkansas University 7-0 on Monday in non-conference action.
The Cougars improve to 9-1 on the year, including 6-1 against top-25 competition.Â
Columbus State had to work to get the doubles point after SAU (10-2) grabbed a win at first doubles in a top-15 showdown. In the match, 13th-ranked Sander Jans and Marko Nikoliuk edged top-ranked Alvaro Regalado and Javier Cueto Ramos 7-6 after winning a 7-2 tiebreaker.
The Cougars were victorious in the other two matches to earn the 1-0 advantage. Second-ranked Tommaso Schold and Pietro Martinetti downed 49th-ranked Stuart Rehfuss and Sofiane Bah 6-4, while Christian Garay and Felix Steen were also 6-4 winners at third doubles.
Singles action saw some exciting play, with the Cougars sweeping all six matches. Southern Arkansas made CSU work though, as three matches went into a decisive third set. At first singles, top-ranked Regalado revenged his doubles lost to Jans, taking the match in come from behind fashion 3-6, 7-5, 10-5. In another 3-set thriller, 41st-ranked Schold recorded the biggest win of the day, upsetting 10th-ranked Nikoliuk 6-1, 5-7, 6-3. Garay was a 3-set winner 6-4, 3-6, 10-5 over Ole Valkyser 6-4, 3-6, 10-5 at fourth singles.
Cueto Ramos and Martinetti also picked up ranked wins on Monday. Cueto Ramos defeated 34th-ranked Rehfuss 6-1, 7-5 in the second spot, while Martinetti breezed by 58th-ranked Bah 6-4, 6-2 at fifth singles. Steen concluded the sweep with a 6-2, 6-2 win at sixth singles against Matthew Tennant.
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Columbus State returns to Peach Belt Conference play to host Augusta University on Friday at the Walden Tennis Center.