NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Alcorn State University men's tennis program was ahead of the #2 seed Alabama A&M Bulldogs at 3-2 but could not hold on during a 4-3 defeat.
The Braves (4-12, 2-3 SWAC) were one win away from a date with top-seeded Alabama State for the SWAC Championship with the #4 and #2 singles slots remaining but ultimately fell just shy of reaching its goal.
The Purple and Gold burst out of the gates with a strong showing in doubles action as the #2 duo
Stojan Stojanovski /
Lucas Dini won with relative ease opposite Cheng Chang Yang / Gjorgi Popovski (6-2) before the #1
team of
David Pata /
Luka Andonov escaped a high stakes action-packed 13-game battle over AAMU's Panji Setiawan / Rodrigo Arana Rios (7-6).
Singles play began more roughly as Divesh Gohlat beat #6
Kareem Bowe (6-1, 6-1) and Panji Setiawan defeated #5
Santiago Rocca (6-0, 6-1) to claim it first lead at 2-1.
#1
David Pata would even the team score, going the distance to outlast Rodrigo Arana Rios by counts of 3-6, 6-3 and 6-1.
#3
Luka Andonov put Coach Moore and the Tennis Braves on the doorstep of its first SWAC Championship Game appearance since 2014 by knocking off Fermin Ruiz Crespo, 7-6 and 6-3.
Next to finish was the fourth slot between
Lucas Dini and Natiphat Mulada which ended in Mulada's favor after two hotly contested games (7-6, 6-4).
In a cruel twist of fate, the #2 singles match to decide who would move on pitted former Brave Gjorgi Popovski against senior and three-time All-SWAC performer
Stojan Stojanovski. Stojanovski drew first blood with a 7-5 triumph while Popovski knotted the proceedings with a 6-2 second game victory. In the deciding game, Popovski carried Alabama A&M to the title bout with a 6-0 win.
Doubles Competition
1. David Pata /
Luka Andonov (Alcorn) DEF Panji Setiawan / Rodrigo Arana Rios (Alabama A&M); 7-6
2. Stojan Stojanovski /
Lucas Dini (Alcorn) DEF Cheng Chang Yang / Gjorgi Popovski (Alabama A&M); 6-2
3. Divesh Gohlat / Fermin Ruiz Crespo (Alabama A&M) vs.
Kareem Bowe /
Santiago Rocca (Alcorn); 5-3 *Unfinished
Singles Competition
1. David Pata (Alcorn) DEF Rodrigo Arana Rios (Alabama A&M); 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. Gjorgi Popovski (Alabama A&M) DEF
Stojan Stojanovski (Alcorn); 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
3. Luka Andonov (Alcorn) DEF Fermin Ruiz Crespo (Alabama A&M); 7-6, 6-3
4. Natiphat Mulada (Alabama A&M) DEF
Lucas Dini (Alcorn); 7-6, 6-4
5. Panji Setiawan (Alabama A&M) DEF
Santiago Rocca (Alcorn); 6-0, 6-1
6. Divesh Gohlat (Alabama A&M) DEF
Kareem Bowe (Alcorn); 6-1, 6-1
#FearTheBrave
