ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — History continues.
For the first time in program history, the Flagler College men's tennis team is headed to the national semifinals after the seventh-seeded Saints upset second-seeded Hawai'i Pacific University, 4-2, Thursday in the NCAA Division II National Championship Elite Eight at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
The first-time feat matches Flagler with third-seeded Barry University in the Final Four Friday at noon. The winner will advance to the National Championship Final on Sunday versus top-seeded Columbus State University or fourth-seeded Wayne State University.
The opening trio of doubles matches came down to the final point yet again. The Sharks (18-3) took the win at second doubles; however, the Saints duo of
Petr Cervinka and
Jacopo Denitto responded at third doubles with a 6-3 victory. The pivotal opening point was in the hands of Flagler's No. 17
Oscar Del Granado and
Philipp Lemken and HPU's Robin Sanz and Jakub Beran. With the score at 4-all, the Saints (20-5) broke the Sharks' serve and held serve on the following game to give Flagler the 1-0 edge headed into singles play.
In singles, the Sharks evened the score at 1-1 behind a second singles win from No. 29 Sanz over No. 37
Nikita Tatyanin. HPU then took a 2-1 lead following No. 2 Jordi Walder outlasting No. 40 Del Granado on court one, 7-5 and 6-4. Denitto held firm on court five to bring the match to a 2-2 stalemate, surviving a comeback attempt in the second set by the Sharks' Jan Heine, 6-1, 7-6 (5).
Diego Amilibia rose to the occasion at sixth singles, winning set one 6-1 and taking control of the second set tiebreaker, 7-6 (1) to put the team ahead 3-2. With four courts finished,
Petr Cervinka was left at third singles, while Lemken was on court four.
Both matches went the distance, but Cervinka took control after winning the first set and dropping the second set, 7-5 and 6-2, to battle back with a 6-3 victory to send the Saints to the Final Four. Lemken was in control of the third set tiebreaker at the time of Cervinka's win, 1-6, 6-2, 6-6 (5-2).
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