MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Lee men's tennis team saw a special season come to an end on Friday in the Gulf South Conference Semifinals, losing 4-0 to the top-seed Valdosta State Blazers.
Senior Jake Okines was in a three-set battle with Mas at No. 1 singles. Mas, a top 10 ranked singles player, took set one 6-3 before Okines flipped the script and won 6-3 in set two. The two players were even at 3-3 in the final set before the match was clinched by the Blazers thanks to 7-5, 6-3 win by Holm over Daniel Prata at No. 5 singles.
"The boys worked so hard all year long it's been unbelievable year. We fought hard but we played a really good team in Valdosta State," said Okines. "I had to bring my best tennis today against a team like Valdosta and I came out here with nothing to lose and just wanted to leave it all at on the court in what was my final college tennis match."
Valdosta State earned the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3. Maz and Simbozel topped Jesus Garcia and Cristian Pons, 6-1 while Pineda and Cizek defeated Prata and Antonio Pons, 6-2. Bruno Medeiros and Okines held the lead 4-3 over Nguyen and Holm before their match was called after the point had been clinched.
Nguyen defeated Antonio Pons, 6-3 and 6-4 at No. 3 singles. Simbozel took down Garcia, 6-0 and rallied from 5-1 down to win 7-5 in set two. Medeiros and Cizek were locked in a three set battle (6-4, 4-6, 2-0) at No. 6 singles before the match ended.
"I think we left it all out there today. Doubles didn't go our way but we asked the guys to leave their hearts on the court and they did that. I thought we turned that match for a period there in several spots but Valdosta is a very good team and give them credit, they will do well tomorrow and at regionals," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes.
The Blazers advance to the GSC Championship match on Saturday and will take No. 2 seed West Florida at 10 a.m.
The Flames end the year with a program best 17 wins, received the team's highest national ranking at No. 47 and finished fourth in the GSC Regular Season, their best finish since joining the league in 2014.
"I think this has been a very defining year for our program," said Hynes. "We want to build on this and continue to improve going into next year. I'm very proud of this team. There were a lot of firsts this season and we finished the year playing very well. As a coach all you can ask for is that your team leaves it all out on the court and we did that today."
