Huntington, WV — For the third consecutive year, West Virginia Wesleyan captures the Men's tennis tournament championship with a 4-1 conquest of the University of Charleston.


After rain delayed play and forced the match indoors to the Huntington Tennis club, the Bobcats swiftly grabbed the doubles point to take and early 1-0 lead. 

Lukas Laipold and Thomas McIntosh rolled to a 6-0 win at #3, and then Harry Simaioforidis and Christos Kyrillou served out a 6-4 victory at #2 to get the 'Cats on the scoreboard.

Singles would not be as easy, however as the Golden Eagles quickly drew even when Ben Lakeman beat Laipold in straight sets at the #1 spot. 

Simaioforidis answered for Wesleyan with a hard-fought 7-5 6-3 win at the #5  spot, and the Bobcats had their 2nd point.

When Maycon Santos Dias brought the 'Cats to brink of the title with a 7-6 6-4 decision at #3, and all eyes fell to the 2nd court, where WVWC's Carlos Dodero and Alek Gracin were locked in a 3-set battle of All-Conference performers.

Dodero broke early for 2-1 lead in the final set, and then caught fire to take the next 4 games in succession to finish off the match, giving Wesleyan it's 3rd straight tourney title and 4th overall in head Coach Marc Walters's tenure.

The Bobcats, now 16-7 overall and 9-0 in MEC play this season, earn the MEC's automatic bid into the NCAA tournament, which pairings will be announced Tuesday at 8pm. 

This marks the 12th consecutive season that Wesleyan has qualified for the postseason, and seventh trip under Walters.