VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Lee University men's tennis team started its spring break trip with a stop at The VSU Tennis Courts for a Gulf South Conference battle with No. 5 Valdosta State. The Blazers (5-1, 2-0 GSC) came away with a 7-2 defeat of the visiting Flames (4-2, 1-2 GSC).
"We competed well today," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. "Valdosta State are a strong program and our guys came ready to battle. We probably let a couple of opportunities slip in doubles, but the effort was definitely there."
Valdosta State carried a 3-0 lead following doubles competition and pulled within one win of clinching the team victory with a win at No. 1 singles by Jordi Mas, ranked No. 14 in NCAA DII.
Boyd Blackburn stopped the VSU run and ended the shutout bid with an upset, three-set win at No. 4 singles. Blackburn lost his opening set, 7-5, to No. 24 Francisco Yim Kim before forcing a third set with a 6-3 mark in the second set. Blackburn completed the comeback with a 6-4 margin in the final set.
VSU posted a win a three-set win at No. 2 singles to secure the team win. Bruno Medeiros gave the Flames their second team point with another come-from-behind win. Medeiros lost 6-3 to Xavier Pineda in their first set and won the second set 6-4. Medeiros led 5-1 in the final set when Pineda retired.
The Blazers increased the final margin with wins in the final two singles matches. Overall, five of the six singles matches needed three sets to determine a winner.
"Great wins for Boyd and Bruno today. Both guys had to come back from a set down and showed a lot of fight. They are both capable of playing at a high level. I can't complain about anyone's effort today, we have it all we had. Now we'll get down to Orlando and look forward to some more great matches this week," added Hynes.
John Carroll University will be the Flames' first opponent while in Orlando. The two squads will collide on Monday with the Flames returning to action on Tuesday against Rockhurst University. Following a day off, Lee is scheduled to complete its week against Cedarville University on Thursday.
#5 VALDOSTA STATE 7, LEE UNIVERSITY 2
Singles competition
1. #14 Jordi Mas (VSUMT) def. Rhys Milne (LEE-M) 6-0, 6-1
2. Florian Simbozel (VSUMT) def. Jake Okines (LEE-M) 7-6 (10-4), 5-7, 6-2
3. Fernando Rivas (VSUMT) def. Igor Schattan (LEE-M) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
4. Boyd Blackburn (LEE-M) def. #24 Francisco Yim Kim (VSUMT) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
5. Bruno Medeiros (LEE-M) def. Xavier Pineda (VSUMT) 3-6, 6-4, 5-1, retired
6. Axel Holm (VSUMT) def. Daniel Prata (LEE-M) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Jordi Mas/Florian Simbozel (VSUMT) def. Rhys Milne/Jake Okines (LEE-M) 8-6
2. Francisco Yim Kim/Fernando Rivas (VSUMT) def. Igor Schattan/Daniel Prata (LEE-M) 8-6
3. Axel Holm/Xavier Pineda (VSUMT) def. Boyd Blackburn/Bruno Medeiros (LEE-M) 8-4
