Score: Mercer 4, Kennesaw State 3
Records: Mercer (2-2), Kennesaw State (0-3)
Up Next: Saturday, Feb. 4 vs. Belmont, 2 p.m.

MACON, Ga. – Kennesaw State won the doubles point, and got wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles from Simon Pritchard and Sam Slade, but Mercer pulled out a 4-3 men's tennis victory Wednesday afternoon in Macon.
 
The Owls (0-3) opened a 1-0 lead over the Bears (2-2) after securing the doubles point. Pritchard and Manuel Castellanos teamed for a doubles win over Guillon and Guardia, 6-3, while Fermin Calvo Barcelo and Sam Slade beat Tsirandis and Stuart, 6-4.
 
With the overall match knotted at 3-3, it all came down to the No. 6 singles contest between the Owls' Jake Bouchillon and Mercer's Tsiranidis. Bouchillon won the first set 6-2, but Tsiranidis took the next two sets 6-3 and 6-4 to secure the victory and lift the hosts past the Owls.
 
"It was a tough one today, no doubt," said Director of Tennis Eduardo Rincon. "We weren't able to keep the momentum going after the doubles and that put us in a difficult position throughout the match. I'm confident that this match will help us moving forward. Right now, we need to put our minds into Belmont so we won't repeat the same mistakes on Saturday. We're look forward to playing at home."
 
Pritchard won his singles match, beating Sam Philp in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Slade was also victorious at No. 2 singles with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nicolas Guillon.
 
Kennesaw State is home Saturday to host Belmont in the 2017 home opener. The match begins at 2 p.m. at the Betty Siegel Courts on campus and admission is free.

Singles
1. Simon Pritchard (KSU) def. Sam Philp (MER) 6-4, 7-5
2. Sam Slade (KSU) def. Nicolas Guillon (MER) 6-4, 6-2
3. Olivier Stuart (MER) def. Fermin Calvo Barcelo (KSU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
4. Fernando Guardia (MER) def. Drew Wendel (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Ruben Vanoppen (MER) def. Lucas deTorres Curth (KSU) 6-4, 6-0
6. E. Tsiranidis (MER) def. Jake Bouchillon (KSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
 
Doubles
1. Sam Philp/Ruben Vanoppen (MER) def. David Durham/Drew Wendel (KSU) 6-1
2. Manuel Castellanos/Simon Pritchard (KSU) def. Nicolas Guillon/Fernando Guardia (MER) 6-3
3. Fermin Calvo Barcelo/Sam Slade (KSU) def. E. Tsiranidis/Olivier Stuart (MER) 6-4

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's tennis news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUMensTennis or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.

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