Box Score


LAGRANGE, Ga. — Averett University men's tennis lost to 30th-ranked N.C. Wesleyan College 6-3 in the USA South Conference Tournament championship match held Saturday at the McCluskey Tennis Center in LaGrange.

N.C. Wesleyan (19-4) notched its ninth consecutive conference tournament title after coming from behind to edge Averett (12-6) by taking five of the six singles matches.

Averett, ranked 16th in the region emerged from doubles play with a 2-1 advantage on the nationally ranked Battling Bishops, who also rank eighth in the region. Senior Nicolas Quevedo and sophomore Abdugani Ganiev teamed up for a 9-7 victory at No. 3 doubles to knot the score, and the Cougars' No. 2 duo of junior James Wright and freshman Nicolas Yanes won 8-6 to finish out doubles competition.

However, N.C. Wesleyan rebounded with a strong effort in singles play. Averett's lone singles win came at the No. 2 spot. Freshman Lauri Soome won his match 6-4, 4-3 (retired).
Soome, the USA South Rookie of the Year, earned a place on the USA South All-Tournament Team in the process.

2017 USA South All-Tournament Team
Sebastian Sikh, N.C. Wesleyan (MVP)
Lauri Soome, Averett
J.D. Telles, N.C. Wesleyan
David Applequist, N.C. Wesleyan
David Chang, N.C. Wesleyan
Matthew Harvie, Covenant