MIDLOTHIAN, Texas – Andrii Stratiienko battled to a 7-6 (7-0), 6-4 win at No. 5 singles to clinch a 5-4 men's college tennis win over St. Edward's Saturday at Frank Seale Courts.
 
The win lifts West Alabama to 1-1 on the season. The loss was the first for St. Edward's winning four straight to start the spring season.
 
"This was a strong comeback win against a very strong St. Edwards team," UWA head coach Jeff Beaman said. "Andrii Stratiienko clinched the match under pressure with one of the best matches, if not the best, I have seen him play."
 
St. Edward's won two of three doubles points, with Linus Holthey and Julius Kaverinen winning at No. 1 for UWA's lone doubles point. Every court was done with the match tied at 4-4 until Stratiienko outdueled Logan Buignet to seal the deal for UWA.
 
"The match was played in 33 degree weather with winds 15 to 18 miles per hour, so I am proud of how the men fought," Beaman said. "We focused on the tennis and did not fall into excuses or getting frustrated with the conditions."
 
Other singles winners for the Tigers were Kaverinen at No. 2, Holthey at No. 4 and Anton Lof at No. 6.
 
West Alabama concludes its Texas trip by playing Ouachita Baptist Sunday at 10 a.m.
 
West Alabama 5, St. Edward's 4
Singles competition
1. #36 Chase Bartlett (SEU) def. Honorio Fernandez (UWA) 6-2, 6-4
2. Julius Kaverinen (UWA) def. Luis Diaz (SEU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Mateus de Col (SEU) def. Erick Nordblom (UWA) 6-3, 6-1
4. Linus Holthey (UWA) def. Will Drumwright (SEU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Andrii Stratiienko (UWA) def. Logan Buignet (SEU) 7-6 (7-0), 6-4
6. Anton Lof (UWA) def. Gabriel Zuniga (SEU) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Linus Holthey/Julius Kaverinen (UWA) def. Luis Diaz/Chase Bartlett (SEU) 8-6
2. Logan Buignet/Davor Ivkovic (SEU) def. Andrii Stratiienko/Henrik Sinkko (UWA) 9-8 (5-0)
3. Mateus de Col/Chase Morehouse (SEU) def. Anton Lof/Honorio Fernandez (UWA) 8-4
 
West Alabama 1-1
St. Edward's 4-1; Regional ranking #4