Toppers fall to No. 22 UT Southern in SSAC opener
NEW ALBANY, Miss. — Blue Mountain Christian fell 5-2 to No. 22 UT Southern in its Southern States Athletic Conference opener, Blue Mountain Christian reported.
UT Southern secured the early doubles advantage by winning two of three flights. Adriaan Engelbrecht and Luis Lainer lost on the No. 1 court, 5-7, and Pablo Cruz and Kevin Kotzé dropped the No. 3 match by the same 5-7 score. Craig Blevins and Maj Langerholz were beaten 1-6 on the No. 2 court.
Singles action produced several competitive matches. Cruz delivered a straight-set victory, 6-3, 7-6, and Luis Lainer added a 6-1, 6-3 win for the Toppers. Engelbrecht won the second set after losing the first, 3-6, 6-4, but fell in the third, 2-6. Kotzé took the opening set 6-3, lost a close second-set tiebreaker 6-7 and dropped the deciding set 2-6. Juan Daniel Aravelo lost 2-6, 0-6, and Blevins fell 0-6, 1-6.
Blue Mountain Christian said the match provided a strong early test as the Toppers continue conference play against ranked competition. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
