Pensacola, Fla. – For the third time in the past 15 days, Lynn University's men's tennis team went to battle against conference rival Saint Leo University. On Saturday in the NCAA South Region I Semifinals, the fourth-seeded and nationally ninth-ranked Fighting Knights took down the fifth-seeded and sixth-ranked Lions, 5-2, earning a spot in tomorrow's final against West Florida.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lynn 5, Saint Leo 2
Records: #9 Lynn (20-5), #6 Saint Leo (13-5)
Location: Ralph "Skeeter" Carson Tennis Complex | Pensacola, Fla.
All-time Series: Lynn leads 31-4
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Different from the conference tournament, the Fighting Knights started with a leg-up this time around, garnering a 2-1 lead after doubles play.
- The two sides split the top two doubles flights, with Saint Leo winning at No. 1, 8-1.
- Kay Bartmann and Jose Porfirio Ordonez then posted a strong 8-2 victory at No. 2.
- No. 3 doubles was a back-and-forth battle and a crucial swing in the match. Down 6-4 in the tiebreaker, Lynn's Jean-Baptiste Mateo and Tristan Houle faced match point, but rallied for a 9-8 (10-8) triumph.
- Lynn quickly went to work in singles play to help decide the match and prevent any Saint Leo comeback.
- Porfirio Ordonez secured the first decision – a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles.
- Shortly after, Houle put the Fighting Knights up 4-1 with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 4.
- The Lions scored their lone point singles point at No. 3, 6-2, 6-4.
- Florian Clemares brought home the Lynn victory in a three-setter with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 triumph at the sixth flight.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- Lynn returns to a South Regional Final for the first time since 2014. A win tomorrow would secure a spot at the NCAA National Championships.
- The Fighting Knights are looking for their first trip to nationals since 2012 when they were in the Final Four.
- Lynn and Saint Leo have played each other three times in the past 15 days. The Lions won the regular season matchup, 5-4, but the Fighting Knights won in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Semifinals (5-4) and in today's South Region bout.
UP NEXT:
Lynn finds tournament host, top seed and nationally top-ranked University of West Florida in tomorrow's South Region #1 Final, set to begin at 9 a.m. CT.
