ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - For the first time since 2017, the NCAA DII Men's Tennis National Championship match will not feature Columbus State University as the No. 1 Cougars fell 4-3 to No. 10 Wayne State University on Saturday in the national semifinals at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

The Cougars finish the 2022 season with a 22-3 record after making its fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. 

Columbus State took the early advantage on Saturday after winning an epic match at first doubles. The first flight was a winner-take-all match after CSU and WSU spilt second and third doubles. No. 6 Alvaro Regalado and Javier Cueto Ramos battled to a 7-6 (7-3) tiebreak victory over No. 7 Cedric Drenth and Daniel Grey to put the Cougars ahead 1-0. 

The other Cougar win came at third doubles as Christian Garay and Felix Steen took care of Niklas Karcs and Ben Lakeman 6-3. Wayne State (26-4) recorded an upset victory at second doubles after Luke Laws and Dom Spicer downed No. 13 Tommaso Schold and Pietro Martinetti 6-4.

The Warriors evened the score at one following a 6-4, 6-4 win by Laws over Steen at sixth singles. However, CSU went right back up after a straight-set win by Cueto Ramos. The No. 41 ranked player in the nation had no issue in a 6-4, 6-3 win over Ben Lakeman.

WSU wouldn't go away and got a big boast from No. 30 Spicer in the first position. Spicer was able to finish off a 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 1 Regalado to pull the Warriors even with the Cougars. 

Wayne State took it's first lead of the day after Grey outlasted No. 63 Garay 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 at fourth singles, but the Cougars showed their resiliency. At fifth singles, Martinetti won the first set 6-2 over Drenth before the two played a marathon second set. Martinetti wrapped up the straight-set win following a 8-6 tiebreak win to put all eyes on court three.

In the decisive match, No. 38 Schold found himself down a set against Karcz, but claimed a 7-5 win in set two to stay alive. He was ahead in the third set, but Karcz wouldn't go away, winning the set 7-6 (7-3) to send Wayne State to the national championship.

The Warriors will take on Barry in the  NCAA DII national championship match on Sunday.