ORLANDO, Fla. - The top-ranked Columbus State University men's tennis team got some revenge on Sunday by defeating fifth-ranked Barry University 4-3 on Sunday in non-conference action. The match was played at the USTA Training Center in Orlando, Fla.

The Buccaneers handed Columbus State (7-1) its only loss of the year in the ITA National Indoor Championship in Indianapolis on Feb. 20. 

"I loved how the guys bounced back from Indy," commented head coach Evan Isaacs. "Barry is a great team, and we know we are in a fight each time we take the court against them."

The doubles point came down to a decisive outcome at first singles where Alvaro Regalado and Javier Cueto Ramos were playing Alejandro Palacios and Arnau Rodriguez. CSU's top-ranked duo downed the Bucs tandem to put the Cougars up 1-0. Chrisitan Garay and Felix Steen were also 6-1 winners for CSU in the second spot, while Tim Buttner and Alessandro Giuliato of BU defeated third-ranked Tommasso Schold and Pietro Martinetti 6-1 at third doubles.

Columbus State (7-1) never lost the overall lead in singles play, but Barry did tie it up following a 6-1, 6-0 win from Buttner at the sixth spot over Welz. However, a quick 6-2, 6-2 win from Schold at third singles gave the lead right back to the Cougars. 

Top-ranked Regalado was in a top-10 showdown against ninth-ranked Palacios. Regalado cruised to a 6-0, 6-4 win to pick up his 20th straight spring victory. The Bucs pulled the score to 3-2 after Rodriguez upset 36th-ranked Martinetti 6-1, 6-4. 

The Cougars found the clincher at fourth singles, where Garay won a 6-3, 6-3 straight-set win over Forcano. 

Barry did pick up another victory as 25th-ranked Giuliato outlasted eighth-ranked Cueto Ramos 3-6, 6-3, 10-5.

UP NEXT
Columbus State returns to the Walden Tennis Center to host the University of Southern Indiana on Thursday, March 10.