LAGRANGE, Ga. — In the opening round of the USA South Conference Tournament, the No. 3-seeded Averett University men's tennis team topped the No. 2-seeded LaGrange College, 5-3, on Friday at the McCluskey Tennis Courts.

This marked the fourth consecutive season that Averett (10-6, 5-4 USA South) has advanced to the USA South semifinals, while securing at least 10 wins and an overall winning record in each of those seasons. The Cougars fell in a slight hole early, with LaGrange (11-4, 10-2 USA South) taking a 2-1 advantage in doubles play. For Averett, the duo of sophomore Simon Levinsson and junior Mathias Reusch earned an 8-4 win in No. 3 doubles.

Singles play was a different story for the Cougars, as freshman Fabian Howding was the first to finish, earning a 6-1, 6-2 win in the No. 5 slot. Levinsson's strong day continued with a 6-1, 6-3 victory in No. 6 singles. In No. 3 singles, sophomore Patrick Shields earned a 6-3, 6-2 victory, while senior Abdugani Ganiev grabbed the match-sealing win with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory in No. 2 singles.

With the win, Averett advances to the USA South semifinals to take on East No. 1 seed N.C. Wesleyan College on Saturday at 10 a.m.