Bradenton, Fla. – Down 4-2 in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament men's tennis semifinals to the third-ranked team in the nation, eighth-ranked and third-seeded Lynn University showed tremendous perseverance on Friday in an exciting 5-4 comeback victory over second-seeded Saint Leo. Jean-Baptiste Mateo clinched the match in a third-set tiebreaker at No. 2 singles, improving to 23-0 on the year in solo play. Mateo's 23 singles wins this season is the most-ever by a Fighting Knight since Lynn joined the NCAA in 1997.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lynn 5, Saint Leo 4
Records: #8 Lynn (19-4), #3 Saint Leo (12-4)
Location: IMG Academy | Bradenton, Fla.
All-time Series: Lynn leads 30-4
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• Saint Leo got on the board first with an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles before the top two flights went toe-to-toe in tiebreaker battles.
• Kay Bartmann and Jose Porfirio Ordonez dominated their tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles for a 9-8 (7-1) win.
• Saint Leo took the advantage into singles however, winning at the top flight, 9-8 (7-2).
• Tristan Houle quickly knotted the match at two-all, winning at No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-2.
• The Lions would next garner straight-set wins at Nos. 1 and 3 to build a 4-2 edge over the Blue and White.
• The Fighting Knights needed the final three singles matches to win, and all three went to a third set.
• Florian Clemares got the ball rolling with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 comeback triumph at No. 6.
• Porfirio Ordonez was nearing in on victory at No. 5 before his opponent retired with a 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 5-0 final.
• A championship berth came down to No. 2 singles between Lynn's Mateo and SLU's Vincent Suillerot. Mateo grabbed the opening set, 6-2, before his opponent responded in the second, 6-3. Mateo trailed 4-1 in the third and Lynn looked to be on the verge of elimination, but the Marseille, France product answered valiantly, forcing a tiebreaker before claiming victory (6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1)).

• With the clutch win, Mateo improves to 23-0 in singles play this year, completing a win in every Lynn match this season. 
• Since Lynn men's tennis joined the NCAA in 1997, Dennis Riegraf's 22-2 record in 2007 held as the program's singles highmark until today. Giorgio Carneade went 28-2 in singles back in 1995 when Lynn was a part of the NAIA.
• Lynn defeated Barry in last year's SSC Semifinals before falling in the SSC Championship match to Saint Leo.

UP NEXT:
Lynn will look to claim its first SSC Championship since 2011 on Saturday, April 22 at 10 a.m. when the Fighting Knights take on top-seeded Barry.