Braves Advance To Semifinals With 4-2 Win Over Prairie View

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Alcorn State University men's tennis program lost the doubles point but rallied back to win four of the five singles matches to move into the SWAC Semifinals on Sunday.

The Braves (4-11, 2-3 SWAC) showed out with its backs against the wall as #2 Stojan Stojanovski, #3 Luka Andonov, #4 Lucas Dini and #5 Santiago Rocca all won their individual matchups.

Stojanovski was in control for most of his match with Juan Malham Viada despite going three sets, bookending a 7⁷-6⁵ tiebreaker in the second set with 6-1 and 6-2 triumphs, respectively.

Andonov was utterly dominant, cruising to a 6-0, 6-1 decision over Rodrigo Yoshikata.

Dini also did not break much of a sweat in his showdown handling Kevin Ugarteche fairly easily by 6-2 and 6-1 margins.

Santiago Rocca clinched the Quarterfinals victory in a seesaw affair with Prairie View A&M's Adrien Blackwell, dropping the opening set 6-2 before digging his way out of the early hole to taste victory at 6-1 and 6-4 in the remaining two games.

Head Coach Darnesha Moore wrapped up its quarterfinal match around 11 p.m. on Saturday night and will now have to battle the #2 seed Alabama A&M Bulldogs at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon off nearly a month-long hiatus and first round bye.
 
Doubles Competition
1. Jorge Juarez Caballero / Juan Malham Viada (Prairie View) DEF David Pata / Luka Andonov (Alcorn); 6-3
2. Stojan Stojanovski / Lucas Dini (Alcorn) vs. Rodrigo Yoshikata / Kevin Ugarteche (Prairie View); 5-5 *Unfinished
3. Jaydn Boone / Tyreese Washington (Prairie View) DEF Kareem Bowe / Santiago Rocca (Alcorn); 6-4

Singles Competition
1. Jorge Juarez Caballero (Prairie View) DEF David Pata (Alcorn); 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Stojan Stojanovski (Alcorn) DEF Juan Malham Viada (Prairie View); 6-1, 6⁵-7⁷, 6-2
3. Luka Andonov (Alcorn) DEF Rodrigo Yoshikata (Prairie View); 6-0, 6-1
4. Lucas Dini (Alcorn) DEF Kevin Ugarteche (Prairie View); 6-2, 6-1
5. Santiago Rocca (Alcorn) DEF Adrien Blackwell (Prairie View); 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
6. Kareem Bowe (Alcorn) vs. Tyreese Washington (Prairie View); 6-4, 3-6 *Unfinished
 
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