Box Score WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Lee University men's tennis team lost 5-4 to St. Cloud State University in its final spring break match. The Flames (8-6) return to Cleveland to face The University of Alabama in Huntsville on March 15. The Gulf South Conference match is scheduled for a 2 p.m. EDT start.
Boyd Blackburn and Rhys Milne defeated Nathanial Cherry and Jacob Cersosimo, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles to give Lee an early 1-0 lead. The Huskies (7-4) won the final two doubles matches to carry a 2-1 advantage into singles competition.
Eirik Groner and Jakes Okines fell 8-6 to Marcelo Locatelli, while Karl Hulten and Charles Jabaley were outlasted by Odyr Cruz and Gabe Guell Bernardi, 9-7.
Groner evened the team score with a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Locatelli. Blackburn beat Bernardi 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 singles to regain the lead. Cruz needed a super set tie-breaker to earn a win over Okines at the No. 2 slot.
Lucas Norbiato pulled St. Cloud State within one point of the team win with identical 7-5 scores in both sets against Milne. Cersosimo held off Hulten 7-5, 6-4 to clinch the fifth team point for the Huskies.
Jabaley supplied the final margin with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of de la Mano at No. 6 singles.
St. Cloud State University 5, Flames 4Singles 1. Eirik Groner (LEE) def. Marcelo Locatelli (SCSUM) 6-1, 6-4
2. Odyr Cruz (SCSUM) def. Jake Okines (LEE) 2-6, 6-4, 10-4
3. Lucas Norbiato (SCSUM) def. Rhys Milne (LEE) 7-5, 7-5
4. Boyd Blackburn (LEE) def. Gabe Guell Bernardi (SCSUM) 6-2, 6-4
5. Jacob Cersosimo (SCSUM) def. Karl Hulten (LEE) 7-5, 6-4
6. Charles Jabaley (LEE) def. Alvar de la Mano (SCSUM) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles 1. Marcelo Locatelli/Joao Souto (SCSUM) def. Eirik Groner/Jake Okines (LEE) 8-6
2. Boyd Blackburn/Rhys Milne (LEE) def. Nathanial Cherry/Jacob Cersosimo (SCSUM) 8-4
3. Odyr Cruz/Gabe Guell Bernardi (SCSUM) def. Karl Hulten/Charles Jabaley (LEE) 9-7
