ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – No. 2 (ITA Collegiate Division II rankings) Flagler College defeated No. 6 Columbus State University 4-1 in a NCAA Division II National Tournament semifinal men's tennis match Friday morning at Sanlando Park. The Saints will face No. 3 Valdosta State University, tomorrow at 9 a.m. Live streaming can be found at ncaa.com.
For the first time since 1986, the men's tennis program will play for a national title. That year Flagler defeated Lander University 33-30 to win its second NAIA title (the other was in 1977).
Flagler, the overall No. 1 seed, improved to 22-2 overall and won its 18
th consecutive match. The Saints defeated Valdosta State 4-3 earlier this year 4-3 in the quarterfinal round of the ITA Indoor National Championship. Columbus State ended the year with a 17-8 record. The Saints defeated the Cougars four times this season.
Once again, Flagler rallied after losing the doubles point. No. 19
Jacopo Denitto defeated Justin Welz for the third time this season, 6-3 and 6-2, to tie the match at 1-all.
Ilian Borlee continued his hot streak with his 16
th win in a row, 7-5 and 6-3, over No. 73 Daniel Hammond. That was Borlee's second win over Hammond this year. No. 10
Baptiste Mercier was taken to three sets by Thomas Cardona, but won 3-6, 6-1, and 6-1 to put Flagler one point away from clinching. Mercier defeat Cardona four times this year. The match came down to
Philipp Lemken at No. 5 singles. He outlasted Elias Peter 6-2, 3-6, and 6-2 to put the Saints into the championship. That was Lemken's 13
th win in a row.
#2 Flagler 4, #6 Columbus State 1
5/24/24 at Altamonte Springs, Fla. (Sanlando Park)
Singles competition
1. #19
Jacopo Denitto (FLG) def. Justin Welz (CSU-M24) 6-3, 6-2
2. #10
Baptiste Mercier (FLG) def. Thomas Cardona (CSU-M24) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
3.
Simon Malis (FLG) vs. Camilo Cano (CSU-M24) 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 3-3, unfinished
4.
Ilian Borlee (FLG) def. #73 Daniel Hammond (CSU-M24) 7-5, 6-3
5.
Philipp Lemken (FLG) def. Elias Peter (CSU-M24) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
6.
Aly El Rafie (FLG) vs. Andreas Sandrone (CSU-M24) 6-7 (1-7), 6-5, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #37
Philipp Lemken/
Simon Malis (FLG) def. Thomas Cardona/Felix Steen (CSU-M24) 6-0
2. #33 Camilo Cano/Justin Welz (CSU-M24) def. #29
Ilian Borlee/
Baptiste Mercier (FLG) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Elias Peter/Andreas Sandrone (CSU-M24) def.
Makary Adamek/
Jacopo Denitto (FLG) 6-3
Match Notes
Columbus State 17-8; National ranking #6
Flagler 22-2; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,4,2,5)
NCAA Division II National Tournament - Semifinal
#1 Flagler vs. #4 Columbus State
T-3:00
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