ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – No. 2 (ITA Collegiate Division II rankings) Flagler College defeated No. 14 University of Texas Tyler 4-1 in a NCAA Division II National Tournament quarterfinal men's tennis match Wednesday morning at Sanlando Park.
Flagler, the overall No. 1 seed, improved to 21-2 overall and won its 17
th consecutive match. The Saints advance to the national semifinals where they will meet Peach Belt Conference rival, and No. 6 ranked, Columbus State University for the fourth time this year. Flagler won all three meetings. The semifinal match will be Friday at 9 a.m. This is the second time the Saints have reached the final four (2022). Texas Tyler ends its season with a 21-6 record.
The Saints dropped the doubles point, but came back with a vengeance in singles.
Ilian Borlee evened the team score with his 16
th consecutive win as he defeated Daniil Felker 6-3, 6-1.
Aly El Rafie gave the Saints the lead for good with a 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Yudai Watanabe.
Simon Malis was taken to three sets but he vanquished Carel Wessel 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. No. 19-ranked
Jacopo Denitto rallied to defeat No. 11 Joaquin Bianchi 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 to clinch the match.
#2 Flagler 4, #14 UT Tyler 1
5/22/24 at Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Sanlando Park)
Singles competition
1. #19
Jacopo Denitto (FLG) def. #11 Joaquin Bianchi (UTT-M) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
2. #10
Baptiste Mercier (FLG) vs. #50 Egor Shestakov (UTT-M) 4-6, 6-3, 2-4, unfinished
3.
Simon Malis (FLG) def. Carel Wessel (UTT-M) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
4.
Ilian Borlee (FLG) def. Daniil Felker (UTT-M) 6-3, 6-1
5.
Philipp Lemken (FLG) vs. Jordi Garcia Portell (UTT-M) 5-7, 6-3, 4-1, unfinished
6.
Aly El Rafie (FLG) def. Yudai Watanabe (UTT-M) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #37
Philipp Lemken/
Simon Malis (FLG) vs. #17 Daniil Felker/Egor Shestakov (UTT-M) 5-6, unfinished
2. #48 Joaquin Bianchi/Carel Wessel (UTT-M) def. #29
Ilian Borlee/
Baptiste Mercier (FLG) 7-5
3. Forkane Lebdi/Job Japelj (UTT-M) def.
Max Berner/
Jacopo Denitto (FLG) 6-1
Match Notes
UT Tyler 21-6; National ranking #14
Flagler 21-2; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,6,3,1)
NCAA Division II National Tournament - Quarterfinal
#8 Texas Tyler vs. #1 Flagler
T-3:45
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