SUMTER, S.C. – The Flagler College men's tennis team began its competition year with the annual Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II Southeast Regional held last weekend.

In the Men's Open Singles A, the Saints had four players competing, including No. 3-seed Jose Martinez. In the Round of 64, Inigo Landaluce lost to the No. 12-seed Gavin Davison of Francis Marion University, 7-5 and 6-2. Martinez rolled past Jason Harris of Erskine College in straight sets 6-3 and 6-1. David Espinosa fell to the No. 9-seed Adam Jonsson of Lander University 7-6, 3-6 and 6-0. Fabio Ferrauti fell to Luca Cerin of Armstrong Atlantic State University in straight sets 6-1 and 6-4.

Martinez advanced to the Round of 16 with a victory over Niklas Terhorst of Lander 6-4, 5-7 and 7-6. He cruised to a straight set win over No. 13-seed Yannick Hass of Georgia College 6-4 and 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinal round. That is where Martinez' run ended as he lost to Ignacio Hernandez-Cajal of Armstrong 6-3, 6-7 and 6-3.

In the consolation bracket first round, Landaluce won in a walk over against Lander's Oscar Axelsson. Alex Schubert of Georgia College defeated Espinosa 6-4 and 6-1 while Ferrauti won an exhausting three-set match against Connor McMann of Belmont Abbey College 6-4, 5-7 and 10-7. In the second round, Landaluce fell to No. 15-seed Matt Finnerty of Mount Olive College 7-6 and 6-0. Ferrauti won his second round match as he defeated No. 12-seed Gavin Davison of Francis Marion 6-3 and 6-4. Ferrauti fell in the third round to No. 5-seed Victor Cabellos of GRU Augusta 6-0 and 6-2.

In the Men's Open Singles B, Flagler put another four players in the field. Dirnaj Saunders advanced out of the Round of 64 in a walk over against Lucas Gobbi of USC Aiken. Juan Luzardo lost in a walk over to Danie Lopez of Limestone College. Justen Louis lost to Fernando Espana of Newberry College 6-3 and 6-1. Bruno Padilha received a bye into the next round.

In the Round of 32, Saunders suffered a 6-1 and 6-1 set-back to Marius Wahlier of Francis Marion. Padilha advanced with a 6-1 and 6-4 win over Alan Pearce of Erskine. Padilha fell in the Round of 16 to Kyle Knisler of Georgia College 6-1 and 6-4.

In the consolation bracket, Luzardo bowed out due to injury after receiving a bye to the second round. Louis fell to Derrick Taylor of Columbus State 6-3 and 6-1 in the second round. Louis, like Luzardo, received a bye through the first round. Saunders received a bye through the first two rounds and then defeated Damien Nelson of Belmont Abbey in straight sets 6-1 and 6-1. Saunders lost in the quarterfinal round to Stanley Roffe of Mount Olive 7-6 and 6-3.

In the Men's Open Doubles A, Martinez and Espinosa teamed up and was the No. 6 seed. They defeated Ignacio Casali and Meum Ole Jacob of Queens University of Charlotte 8-4 in the Round of 32. Landaluce and Padilha fell in the Round of 32 to Sebastian and William Edin of Young Harris College 8-3.

Espinosa and Martinez were victorious in the Round of 16, 8-6, over Marcelo Alvim and William Sparks of Lincoln Memorial University. But the run ended in the quarterfinals when they met Pablo Gor-Costales and Pedro Scocuglia, the No. 3 seed, of Armstrong, 8-6. That duo went on to win the region title.

In the Men's Open Doubles B, Ferrauti and Louis received a bye in the Round of 32, and then lost in the Round of 16 to Tim Ruepke and Marius Wahlier of Francis Marion 8-5.