ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - The Columbus State University men's tennis team's victorious season comes to a close after suffering a 1-4 loss to Flagler College in the NCAA semifinal match at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
After losing the #1 doubles match, Columbus State's #2 and #3 teams battled to win the doubles point over the Saints. In the third spot, the duo of
Andreas Sandrone and
Elias Peter beat Makary Adamek and Jacopo Denitto 6-3 to tie it 1-1. In the second match, the pair of
Justin Welz and
Camilo Cano put on a show, fighting back after being down 5-3 to defeat Ilian Borlee and Baptiste Mercier 7-6 (7-4 TB).
In singles play, Flagler's Denitto tied the match 1-1 after beating Welz 6-3, 6-2 in the #1 match. Borlee gave the Saints the lead, defeating
Daniel Hammond 7-5, 6-3 in the #4 spot.
Thomas Cardona and Peter both went into three sets with ther FC opponents, playing in #2 and #5 singles. Cardona beat Mercier 6-3 in the first set, however, Mercier fought back to put down Cardona 6-1, 6-1 in the next two sets to win the match, placing Flagler one point away from advancing to the national championship.
Peter lost his first set to Phillip Lemken 6-2, but turned around and beat him 6-3 in the second. Lemken took the third set 6-2 to send Flagler to the title game.
Columbus State ends the season with a 17-8 record. This was the Cougars' ninth NCAA semifinal appearance in program history, 10th appearance in the NCAA round of 16 and 24th overall in the NCAA tournament.
