CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The University of Charleston overcame two deficits late in the match to defeat No. 3 West Virginia Wesleyan 5-4 and earn a spot in the WVIAC Championship on Sunday.

The Golden Eagles took a 2-1 lead after the doubles matches. Sam Humphrey and Dennis Okoth posted an 8-2 win at the No. 1 spot while James Gammell and Gabe Seymour downed their opponent by an 8-4 count. The Bobcats got on the board with an 8-3 win at the No. 2 slot by Aitor Reparaz and Joel Izquierdo.

WVWC tallied wins by Reparaz at No. 4 (7-5, 6-2) and Izquierdo at No. 5 (6-2, 6-4) to take a 3-2 lead. However, Sherba picked up the win at the top spot, 6-4, 6-4.

The Bobcats took the lead briefly when Eduard Gusevs posted a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (4) victory at the No. 2 position. Minutes later, Gammell knotted the score at 4-4 after he tallied a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 win at the No. 3 slot, forcing the outcome to be decided by the No. 6 singles match.

Playing at the No. 6 position, Nick Bakos rallied after dropping the first set 7-5 to post scores of 6-2, 6-3, clinching the match for the Golden Eagles.

Doubles:
1 Sam Humphrey/Dennis Okoth (UC) def Javier Yim Kim/Eduard Gusevs 8-2
2 Aitor Reparaz/Joel Izquierdo (WVWC) def. Matt Sherba/Rico Williams 8-3
3 James Gammell/Gabe Seymour (UC) def. Nathan Savil/Douglas Oliveira 8-4

Singles:
1 Sherba (UC) def. Yim Kim 7-5, 6-4
2 Gusevs (WVWC) def. Humphrey 7-6 (8), 7-6 (4)
3 Gammell (UC) def. Oliveira 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
4 Reparaz (WVWC) def. Okoth 7-5, 6-2
5 Izquierdo (WVWC) def. Jake Larenz 6-2, 6-4
6 Nick Bakos (UC) def. Andre Fernandes (WVWC) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3