COLUMBUS - The No. 1 Columbus State University men's tennis team began its quest for a fourth straight appearance in the NCAA DII Men's Tennis national championship match with a 4-0 victory over No. 24 Belmont Abbey College on Monday at the John W. Walden Tennis Center. 

The Cougars were on cruise control in the first round of the NCAA Southeast Regional and advanced into Tuesday's regional final against No. 16 Lander University. The fourth-seeded Bearcats defeated fifth-seeded Queen's University 4-2 to move on in the national tournament.

CSU (19-2) started the day off by taking the doubles point following wins at the first and second spots. No. 6 Alvaro Regalado and Javier Cueto Ramos were 6-1 winners over Xaveam van Wijk and Nicholas Cary in the top flight, while No. 13 Pietro Martinetti and Tomasso Schold downed Nelson Stafford and Zachary Blythe 6-2 in the second position. 

The Cougars were also leading at third doubles when play was called as Felix Steen and Christian Gary held a 4-1 edge over Andres Golindano and Alex Turner.

Columbus State made quick work of Belmont Abbey (17-6) in singles action. No. 63 Garay raced to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Kent Shiell in the fourth spot for CSU's second point, while No. 38 Schold wrapped up shortly after. Schold took down Stafford 6-1, 6-2 in the third flight to bring Columbus State one win away from the second round.

The clincher came at first singles where No. 1 Regalado finished a straight-set win over van Wijk. The All-American recorded a 6-4, 6-0 decision to send the Cougars to Tuesday. 

Martinetti and Steen were both up a set at fifth and sixth singles, respectively, when the win was put in the books. BAC was up at second singles as Blythe was one game away from an upset win over No. 41 Cueto Ramos. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State and Lander battle for a spot in the NCAA Championship Round of 16 on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Walden Tennis Center.