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Bulus, Vesanen
Joe Chance
4
Winner Southwest Baptist Men's SBUMT (6-7)
3
West Alabama UWA (3-4)
Winner
Southwest Baptist Men's SBUMT
(6-7)
4
Final
3
West Alabama UWA
(3-4)

Match Recap: Men's Tennis |

Tigers Lose to SWB in Top 25 Match

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – In a match that went down to the final pairing of a very late Thursday evening at the AUM Tennis Courts, No. 25 Southwest Baptist pulled off a 4-3 men's tennis victory over No. 22 West Alabama.
 
Southwest Baptist improved its record to 6-7 with the win. West Alabama fell to 3-4. 
 
"This match was a roller coaster ride after coming back from being down 1-3 and after having lost the first set at courts 1, 2 and 6 in singles," UWA head coach Jeff Beaman said. "It finally all came down to the the third and deciding set at No. 6 singles where we fought to the end but came up just short."
 
After starting in a hole by losing the doubles point, Ilia Dehodiuk evened the match at 1-1 with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Alvaro Nunez at No. 3 singles. Southwest Baptist then extended its lead to 3-1 with victories at No. 4 and 5 singles before Christopher Bulus came from a set down to win at No. 1 singles 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
 
Ilari Vesanen tied the match at 3-3 by defeating Carlos Corser 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 at No. 2 singles, leaving the final overall match outcome to the No. 6 singles court. UWA's Anton Lof and SBU's Ilyes Khelifi split the first two sets, each winning 6-1. Khelifi hung on for a 7-6 decision in the third set and the secured the win for SBU.
 
"Our men have all the talent in the world, but need to start giving a better effort in everything from practice to warming up to some personal gut checks if we are going to get close to playing at our full potential," Beaman said. "I have been doing this long enough to know talent and how good this team can be, so we will get back at it hard at practice tomorrow as the next few days can be a big turnaround for this group."
 
West Alabama returns to Gulf South Conference play Sunday at Lee. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
 
#25 Southwest Baptist Men's 4, #22 West Alabama 3
Singles competition
 
1. Christopher Bulus (UWA) def. Gaber,Adham (SBUMT) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
2. Ilari Vesanen (UWA) def. Corser,Carlos (SBUMT) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6
3. Ilia Dehodiuk (UWA) def. Nunez,Alvaro (SBUMT) 6-0, 7-5
4. Szeri,David (SBUMT) def. Nuutti Jokinen (UWA) 7-6, 6-3
5. Sanoja,Max (SBUMT) def. Patricio Nieto (UWA) 7-6, 6-3
6. Khelifi,Ilyes (SBUMT) def. Anton Lof (UWA) 6-1, 1-6, 7-6
 
Doubles competition
1. Christopher Bulus/Ilari Vesanen (UWA) def. Corser,Carlos/Sanoja,Max (SBUMT) 6-2
2. Nabil,Youssef/Gaber,Adham (SBUMT) def. Nuutti Jokinen/Noah Johansen (UWA) 6-2
3. Szeri,David/Nunez,Alvaro (SBUMT) def. Ilia Dehodiuk/Patricio Nieto (UWA) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Southwest Baptist Men's 6-7; National ranking #25
West Alabama 3-4; National ranking #22
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,4,5,1,2,6)
 
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