Men's Tennis Edged by ETSU in Season Opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following a delayed start to the season due to weather-induced match cancellations, the Belmont University men's tennis team began its 2024 campaign late Saturday afternoon with a close battle against East Tennessee State University at the Ensworth Tennis Center in Nashville. With nearly every match coming down to the wire, the visiting Buccaneers (3-3) escaped with a 5-2 win.
 
Both senior Tomas Luis and junior Ian Cruz dug out tight singles victories for the Bruins' two points.
 
In doubles, the tandem of junior Gabriel Sardo and Niklas von Hellens were able to get past ETSU's Peter Kalocsai and James Sim in a 7-3 tiebreaker at the third spot. However, the Buccaneers had already clinched the all-important doubles point with 6-4 and 6-3 wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.
 
ETSU's No. 2 doubles pair of Dimitri Badra and Francisco Lamas entered the match ranked 55th in the nation.
 
After the Buccaneers' Pedro Cressoni put ETSU up 2-0 with a straight-set triumph at No. 4 singles, Cruz earned Belmont's first point of the day at the third spot. He topped Kalocsai 7-5, 7-5.
 
Von Hellens was narrowly defeated 7-5, 7-6 (1) at No. 5 singles as Luis made it a 3-2 match with a three-set win at No. 2 singles. After taking the first set 7-5 against the Buccaneers' Milledge Cossu, Luis rebounded from a 6-2 second set loss with a 6-4 set three victory.
 
Badra clinched the match for ETSU at the top singles spot with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over senior Alfred Wallin.
 
Sardo and Lamas continued to exchange blows at the No. 6 position and were last off the court after the two split 7-5 sets. It was Lamas in the third set who came away with the win as he outlasted Sardo 6-4.
 
Up Next
The Bruins take on nearby Southeast Conference member Vanderbilt Sunday morning in the Music City. First serve of the in-town road match is slated for 11 a.m. from inside the Lummis Family Tennis Center.
 
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