NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The opening round momentum for Belmont Men's Tennis fell shy of lifting the team to a second victory at the 2017 OVC Championship. The No. 4 Bruins were held off by top-seeded Tennessee Tech, 4-1, in the semifinals on Saturday at Centennial Sportsplex.
The Bruins clenched the doubles point, thanks to wins at Nos. 2 and 3. The duo of sophomore Zak Khan (London, United Kingdom) and junior Stephen Goldman (Lutz, Fla.) won at No. 2, 6-3, while at No. 3 freshman Vincent Sterkens (Antwerp, Belgium) and senior Bruno Russo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) were victorious with a score of 6-2. The match at No. 1 with senior Cedric Dujacquier (Feluy, Belgium) and Hendrik Inno (Someru, Estonia) went unfinished with the teams locked, 5-5.
BU battled valiantly on the singles side, pushing four of the finished matches to extra sets before a decision was made. OVC co-Freshman of the Year Inno waged a fierce battle at No. 2, rallying to force a third set before falling, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. At No. 3, OVC co-Freshman of the Year Sterkens also pushed to a third before being held off, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Khan also rallied late before falling at No. 4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Belmont wraps the 2017 campaign with a 10-14 overall record after going 4-3 in conference play.
