SALISBURY, N.C. – Anderson men's tennis (9-9, 4-8 SAC) came up short in its conference finale on Friday afternoon. The loss came to No. 33-ranked Catawba (11-6, 10-1 SAC) by a 5-2 score. With the victory, Catawba earned double-digit conference wins and locked up the 2nd seed at the SAC Tournament next weekend. On the other hand, AU's loss eliminated them from SAC Tournament contention.

Doubles was tight between the two teams, but the Indians earned victories on all three courts. AU held leads at No. 2 and No. 3, but were unable to close out each set.

Catawba continued their momentum into singles, quickly building a 3-0 lead. Junior Mathis Collignon stopped the bleeding, earning his fourth singles win in five matches, 6-4, 6-2.

The Indians clinched the match with a straight-set win at No. 2, but AU wasn't finished. Freshman Sky Thavornchaisophon staged a come-from-behind win in a match tiebreak at the No. 3 position, making the score 4-2. Catawba won the final singles match in another match tiebreak.

Written by AU student-athlete Drew Cagle

#33 Catawba 5, Anderson 2

Singles results:

1. Edoardo Cecere (CC) def. Vicent Mico (AU) 6-1, 6-3

2. Mateo Berne (CC) def. Joao Mendes (AU) 6-4, 6-2

3. Sky Thavornchaisophon (AU) def. Alessandro Valletta (CC) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0(3)

4. Mathis Collignon (AU) def. Marcos Casteres (CC) 6-4, 6-2

5. Ryan Little (CC) def. Hampton Goldman (AU) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0(6)

6. Taketoshi Nanao (CC) def. Patrick Cronin (AU) 6-3, 6-3

Order of Finish: 6, 1, 4, 2, 3, 5

Doubles results:

1. Edoardo Cecere/Ryan Little (CC) def. Hampton Goldman/Joao Mendes (AU) 6-1

2. Mateo Berne/Marcos Casteres (CC) def. Patrick Cronin/Vicent Mico (AU) 7-5

3. Paul Dekester/Tyler Juergens (CC) def. Mathis Collignon/Sky Thavornchaisophon (AU) 7-5

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

Match Notes:

Anderson 9-9, 4-8 SAC

#33 Catawba 11-6, 10-1 SAC

T - 4:15

Att: 50