Men's Tennis Southern Conference

Bucs Drop 4-3 Decision To Michigan

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. – The 55th-ranked ETSU men’s tennis team nearly picked up its third all-time victory in the NCAA Tournament Friday but No. 24 Michigan slightly edged ETSU, 4-3. The loss moves the Bucs’ record to 18-6 overall, which is their most wins since the 2008 season.

“It was a hell of a college tennis match,” remarked ETSU Head Coach Yaser Zaatini. “We gave it all we had and came up just short. The loss leaves a huge empty spot in our gut but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our boys represented ETSU with the highest sense of pride and love. If we had to lose, this is the way wanted it.”

The match began with three doubles matches with identical 7-5 final scores. Diego Nunez and Robert Herrera picked up a win in the No. 2 position but the Wolverines won in the other two spots to claim the doubles point.

After Carter Lin defeated Nunez 6-3, 6-1 to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead, the Bucs reeled off three straight victories from David Biosca , Herrera and Rogerio Ribeiro to give the team its first lead of the game, 3-2. Unfortunately for ETSU, Michigan won the final two singles contests in three sets to seal the 4-3 win.

ETSU will lose four seniors but are set to bring back six players from this season’s squad for the 2017 campaign.