ROME, Ga. - The 12th ranked Top-seeded Battling Bishop men's tennis team advanced to the finals of the USA South Tournament by defeating 3rd seeded Southern Virginia University 5-1 in the semifinal round in Rome, Georgia at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.
In an all-East Division semifinal round, the two top-seeds advanced to the championship match. Top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan, now 27-4 on the year, defeated third-seeded Southern Virginia (7-6), while second-seeded Averett topped fourth-seeded Methodist, 5-1. The Battling Bishops will now look to secure their 13th consecutive USA South Tournament championship. The championship match will take place in Rome, tomorrow, April 30.
Wesleyan took a 2-1 lead after doubles as their #2 and #3 doubles teams each won by scores of 8-3. Unfortunately, Wesleyan's top doubles team of #3 senior and Player of the Year Jhonny Acosta and freshman Diego Segovia then lost a heartbreaker at the top spot falling 8-7 and 8-6 in the tiebreaker. The senior team of Max Robinson and Roberto Puig, ranked 15th in the region, then won 8-3 at the 2 spot while the team of senior JP Vallejo and sophomore John Falke also won 8-3 at the three spot.
However, the Bishops then dominated the singles matches with #17 Falke, junior Augusto Roca and freshman Rookie of the Year Luca Knese clinching the 5-1 win for the Bishops as they cruised in straight sets in each of their matches. Falke first closed out his foe by shutout, 6-0, 6-0 while Roca won 6-1, 6-2 and Knese won 6-1, 6-0.
Acosta, Vallejo, and Puig had also all won their first sets when the match was called. Acosta and Vallejo were each leading 6-4 while Puig was up 6-3, 2-0.
First Round - Thursday, April 28
Match 1: West #4-Brevard - 0 East #1-N.C. Wesleyan - 9
Match 2: East #3-Southern Virginia - 6 West #2-Piedmont - 3
Match 3: West #3-LaGrange - 0 East #2-Averett - 9
Match 4: East #4-Methodist - 5 West #1-Covenant - 4
Semifinals - Friday, April 29
East #3-Southern Virginia - 1 East #1-N.C. Wesleyan - 5
East #4-Methodist - 1 East #2-Averett - 5
Championship - Saturday, April 30
East #2-Averett vs. East #1-N.C. Wesleyan - 2:00pm
Please continue to visit the Tournament Website and Tournament Bracket for up-to-date information.