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HOME OF THE LANDER UNIVERSITY BEARCATS #CLAWSUP
4
Winner Lander University LU (10-2 (1-0 PBC))
3
Augusta AU (9-5 (1-1 PBC))
Winner
Lander University LU
(10-2 (1-0 PBC))
4
Final
3
Augusta AU
(9-5 (1-1 PBC))
Ismail ElShafei
Hailey Franklin

Match Recap: Men's Tennis | | Hailey Franklin - Assistant Sports Information Director

Bearcats Battle Back to Edge Augusta in Peach Belt Opener

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Lander University men's tennis team kicked off Peach Belt Conference play with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Augusta on Friday afternoon at the Newman Tennis Center. Despite dropping the doubles point, the Bearcats stormed back in singles play, with Ismail ElShafei delivering the clinching win in a three-set thriller. 

Doubles Recap

Augusta struck first in doubles, taking two of the three matches to claim the opening point. Lander's No. 2 Harry Pugh and Brendan Jayaprakash duo cruised to a 6-1 win, but the Jaguars responded with victories at the top and third spots. 

The No. 1 tandem of Merlin Bellet and Max Barriere came up just short in a tiebreak, falling 7-6 (7-5 TB), while Ludvig Danielsson and Markus Sorensen dropped a 7-5 decision on court three.

Singles Recap

Facing an early deficit, Lander answered the challenge in singles, winning four of the six matches to secure the comeback. Pugh evened the score with a three-set win at No. 1, outlasting Alexis Bailhache 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. 

Mouad Naoui added another crucial point at No. 5, securing a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 victory over Enzo Sakiyama. At No. 6, Jayaprakash overcame a second-set setback to defeat Humberto Pinto 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, putting Lander one step closer to the win.

With the match knotted at 3-3, all eyes turned to ElShafei at No. 4. After dropping the first set, the junior dug deep, battling back for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over David Perret to seal the Bearcats' first conference victory of the season.

UP NEXT
Lander (10-2, 1-0 PBC) will look to build on its momentum in an upcoming road match against another conference foe, Georgia College & State University (11-1, 1-0 PBC). Doubles will begin at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 28, at the Centennial Center Tennis Courts.
 
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