FLORENCE, Ala. – For the second time in three days, the Lee University men's tennis match was decided in the final singles matchup. This time the Flames (8-4, 2-3 GSC) found themselves on the downside of a 5-4 score to host North Alabama (4-6, 3-4 GSC).
"It was a great match to be a part of," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. "Congrats to UNA for coming out on top. I can't fault our guys effort at any position today. It hurts to be on the wrong side of a 5-4 result, but this match is going to help us as a program."
UNA took the early lead with an 8-4 win by Miguel Garcia and Austin Racine over Rhys Milne and Jake Okines. Boyd Blackburn and Bruno Medeiros held off Cade Reasons and George Markos, 8-6, to tie the team score at 1-1. The Lions held a 2-1 lead after doubles competition following an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles.
Reasons pushed UNA's lead to 3-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Daniel Prata at the sixth position, but Blackburn responded with a 6-4, 6-4 advantage at No. 5 singles to pull the Flames back to within one point.
Garcia was forced to three sets by Okines before putting the hosts back up two and within one point of securing the team win at 4-2.
Schattan outlasted Luca Cirenza to record a three-set win at No. 3 singles. Schattan won the first and third sets, 6-1, and dropped the second set in a 7-5 tie-breaker. Medeiros needed three sets and a tie-breaker in the third set to knock off Racine and even the team contest at 4-4.
"I'm proud of our guys from managing to make it a battle after going down 2-4. Very proud of Boyd and Bruno today. They played great doubles under pressure to keep us in it, then Boyd held it together well in his singles. Bruno's match was very high quality. We fought our tails off in every match and that's all I can ask for."
Milne and Jason Pimenta traded 7-5 marks in the first two sets to send the No. 1 singles match to a third-and-deciding third set for the individual and team win. Pimenta was able to overtake Milne 7-5 to claim the singles and team matches.
The Flames return home to challenge Cumberland University on Tuesday. The non-conference match is set for 3 p.m. EDT at the DeVos Tennis Center.
NORTH ALABAMA 5, LEE UNIVERSITY 4
Singles competition
1. Jason Pimenta (UNA) def. Rhys Milne (LEE-M) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5
2. Miguel Garcia (UNA) def. Jake Okines (LEE-M) 6-0, 2-6, 6-2
3. Igor Schattan (LEE-M) def. Luca Cirenza (UNA) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1
4. Bruno Medeiros (LEE-M) def. Austin Racine (UNA) 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Boyd Blackburn (LEE-M) def. Gustavo Girao (UNA) 6-4, 6-4
6. Cade Reasons (UNA) def. Daniel Prata (LEE-M) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Miguel Garcia/Austin Racine (UNA) def. Rhys Milne/Jake Okines (LEE-M) 8-4
2. Jason Pimenta/Luca Cirenza (UNA) def. Daniel Prata/Igor Schattan (LEE-M) 8-6
3. Boyd Blackburn/Bruno Medeiros (LEE-M) def. Cade Reasons/George Markos (UNA) 8-6
