Box Score
Belton, TX – The Hardin-Simmons University men's tennis team stormed back from a deficit after doubles and the Cowboys held on for a 5-3 win over Mississippi College in the Semifinals of the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament Saturday in Belton. HSU improves to 11-8 on the spring with the victory. The loss ends the season for the Choctaws at 13-6.
Mississippi College took a 2-1 lead after doubles with wins at #1 and #2 doubles. The Cowboys tied the match on Andy Cariens' 6-4, 6-2 victory at #2 singles, but John Downing gave the lead back to the Choctaws with a 6-4, 6-4 win at #5 singles. The Cowboys then took a 4-3 lead with wins at #6 and #4 singles and Erich Bein closed out the victory with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Cory Seay at #1 singles. #3 singles had just started a third set when the match was decided.
The Cowboys will now advance to the Championship Match to face three-time defending ASC champion U.T.-Tyler tomorrow at 9:00 AM at the Yvonne Li Tennis Center. The start time for that match was moved up from 1:00 PM due to concerns about the weather. The Choctaws end the year at 13-6 and Downing and Seay also played the final matches of their Mississippi College careers.
Results
Singles
Erich Bein (HSU) def. Cory Seay (MC) 6-4, 6-4
Andy Cariens (HSU) def. Jacob Womack (MC) 6-4, 6-2
Emmanuel Navejas (HSU) vs. Matt Whiteside (MC) 7-5, 1-6, 1-0, unfinished
Cullen Dees (HSU) def. Christian Branning (MC) 6-4, 6-2
John Downing (MC) def. Sean Strehlow (HSU) 6-4, 6-4
Michael McCullough (HSU) def. Howard Summers (MC) 6-1, 6-4
Doubles
Seay/Womack (MC) def. Bein/Strehlow (HSU) 8-6
Downing/Whiteside (MC) def. Cariens/Navejas (HSU) 8-5
McCullough/Tony Record (HSU) def. Branning/Matt Thidobeaux (MC) 8-4
