COLUMBUS - The top-ranked Columbus State University men's tennis team closed out the regular season in impressive style on Sunday, sweeping fifth-ranked University of North Georgia 7-0 in Peach Belt Conference play at the Walden Tennis Center. 

The Cougars move into the postseason with a 16-2 record and close out PBC action with a 5-1 mark. CSU is the second seed in the upcoming PBC Tournament, which begins on Friday, April 29 at the Walden Tennis Center.

Most of the day's excitement came at first doubles, where the first point of the afternoon was being decided. All eyes were on fourth-ranked Alvaro Repgalado and Javier Cueto Ramos and 29th-ranked Ryan Gaskin and Joaquin Benoit as the two pairs battled in a closely contested match. The Cougar duo prevailed in the end, picking up the 7-5 win to put CSU in control of the match.

The other CSU doubles win came in the third position as Christian Garay and Felix Steen easily handled Gulio Sassi and Zach Waldow 6-2. UNG grabbed an upset win at second doubles when 49th-ranked Daniel Ostap and Cole Brainard knocked off 12th-ranked Tommaso Schold and Pietro Martinetti.

Columbus State breezed in singles play to run away for its fifth top-10 victory of the season. Top-ranked Regalado was exceptional against ninth-ranked Benoit at first singles in a 6-3, 6-4 win, while 36th-ranked Schold posted a 7-6, 6-4 decision over Gaskin in the second spot. Third singles played out similar to Schold's match as 62nd-ranked Garay defeated Waldow 7-6, 6-4.

The backend of the Cougar lineup was dominant against the Nighthawks with fifth and sixth singles losing just five games. Martinetti walked over Brainard 6-1, 6-0 in the fifth spot, while Justin Welz was a 6-2, 6-2 winner of Sassi at sixth singles. 

In the lone three-set match of the day, Steen outlasted Ostap 6-4, 4-6, 10-8. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State plays in the 2022 PBC Championship quarterfinals on Friday, April 29. CSU will take on the seventh-seed in the first round matchup at 6 p.m.