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Southwestern University

Men's Tennis Advances to Sweet 16, Rematch With Trinity

Stevens
2
Southwestern
5

Doubles

Marc Feliu / Aashi Kulakarni (STEVENS)
def. Drew Shuvalov / Carlos Rodero (SU)
8-4
Keegan Morris / Gabriel Sifuentes (STEVENS)
def. Hunter Bajoit / Vesko Lekovic (SU)
8-4
Alexander Joseph / Anton Borovik (SU)
def. Garrett Kincaid / Mark Pabalan (STEVENS)
8-2

Singles

Hunter Bajoit (SU)
def. Marc Feliu (STEVENS)
FINAL - UNFINISHED
Alexander Joseph (SU)
def. Keegan Morris (STEVENS)
6-2, 6-0
Vesko Lekovic (SU)
def. Aashi Kulakarni (STEVENS)
6-2, 6-3
Carlos Rodero (SU)
def. Gabriel Sifuentes (STEVENS)
6-1, 6-1
Steven Tibbetts (SU)
def. Adam Borowczak (STEVENS)
FINAL - UNFINISHED
Anton Borovik (SU)
def. Mark Pabalan (STEVENS)
6-1, 6-1
full stats
Men's Tennis Advances to Sweet 16, Rematch With Trinity
Posted: May 15, 2021

RICHARDSON, Texas — Southwestern men's tennis opened the program's historical first match in an NCAA Tournament by handing the Stevens Institute of Technology their first loss of the season, defeating the Ducks 5-2. 

Stevens earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by winning its 11th consecutive conference championship. The Ducks breezed through the MAC Freedom conference with an 11-0 record, surrendering only a single point all season in a 5-1 victory over FDU-Florham in its conference semifinals. 

Southwestern arrived at its first NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid and quickly showed it belonged. Alexander Joseph and Anton Borovik opened the match with a big 8-2 win over Garrett Kincaid and Mark Pabalan in No. 3 doubles. 

"Anton and Alex gave us a huge point in doubles," head coach Billy Porter said. "Stevens played really well at the other two lines."

Stevens showed its high stakes experience by roaring back with a pair of 8-4 wins to close doubles with a 2-1 lead. Keegan Morris and Gabriel Sifuentes defeated Hunter Bajoit and Vesko Lekovic in the No. 2 spot. Marc Feliu and Aashi Kulakarni closed doubles with a win over Southwestern's Drew Shuvalov and Carlos Esteban Rodero in the top spot. 

The Pirates got a big afternoon from freshman Anton Borovik, who opened singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Pabalan in No. 6 singles. Esteban Rodero followed with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Sifuentes.

Joseph followed with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Morris in No. 2 singles. He and his doubles teammate, Borovik, accounted for three of Southwestern's five points. 

Lekovic clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Kulakarni in No. 3 singles. Bajoit and Steven Tibbetts were each up one set when the match ended. 

"Our depth came through in singles. We were controlling the back courts. Vesko's clinch was big as that second set got tight," Porter said. "I couldn't be happier for the guys, who found a way to rally after being down after doubles to send us to the Sweet 16." 

With the win, Southwestern improves to 15-2 this season. The Pirates advance to the third round to face Trinity University in a rematch of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championship. Trinity defeated Concordia Texas 5-1 to advance to the third round. The Tigers have handed the Pirates their only two losses this season.