CLEVELAND, Tenn. – In a thrilling comeback win, the Delta State University men's tennis team earned its fourth consecutive match win of the 2018 season with a 6-3 victory against Gulf South Conference rival, Lee University on Saturday, Feb. 24, in Cleveland, Tenn.
While Lee took the match win on court three in doubles,
Mason Vice and
Joao Yamacita hung on to an 8-6 victory at court two to level the score, 1-1. But
Emile Le Terrier and
Hugo Stroppiana suffered a heartbreaking loss at No. 1 doubles, handing Lee a 2-1 lead into singles play.
With the match on the line, the Statesmen entered the singles competition with renewed vigor. Stroppiana and Vice put the Statesmen back in the match, picking up much-needed match wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles. After dropping the first set, Le Terrier bounced back to win the second and third sets, pulling Delta State within one point of the match. At No. 4 singles,
Stedman Strickland hung on to a 7-6, 7-5 victory to clinch match point for the Statesmen.
DOUBLES COMPETITION
1. Rhys Milne/Jake Okines (Lee) def.
Emile Le Terrier/
Hugo Stroppiana (DSU) 9-8 (8-6)
2.
Mason Vice/
Joao Yamacita (DSU) def. Daniel Prata/Igor Schattan (Lee) 8-6
3. Boyd Blackburn/Bruno Medeiros (Lee) def.
Stedman Strickland/
Timo Schmitz (DSU) 9-7
SINGLES COMPETITION
1.
Emile Le Terrier (DSU) def. Rhys Milne (Lee) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
2.
Hugo Stroppiana (DSU) def. Jake Okines (Lee) 6-3, 7-5
3.
Mason Vice (DSU) def. Igor Schattan (Lee) 6-4, 6-4
4.
Stedman Strickland (DSU) def. Bruno Medeiros (Lee) 7-6, 7-5
5.
Joao Yamacita (DSU) def. Daniel Prata (Lee) 7-5, 6-2
6. Boyd Blackburn (Lee) def.
Andrew Hildenbrand (DSU) 6-4, 6-4
Match Notes:
- With the win, the Statesmen extend their winning streak to four matches—the longest winning streak since 2016.
- The 4-0 start is DSU's best start to the season since 2015.
- Vice was the only Statesman to earn a win in doubles and singles.
- Le Terrier remains undefeated at No. 1 singles.
- Le Terrier/Stroppiana suffered their first doubles loss of the season at No. 1 doubles.
- Lee falls to 3-1 and 0-1 in GSC competition.
UP NEXT:
The Statesmen will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a non-conference match against William Carey University scheduled on March 3, at 2:30 p.m. The Statesmen will also play Jones Junior College in an exhibition match on March 3, in Hattiesburg, Miss., at a time to be determined.
