Match 14
Score: Kennesaw State 5, USC Upstate 2 | Box Score
Records: Kennesaw State (9-5, 1-0), Upstate (4-11, 0-1)
Up Next: Saturday, March 25 at NJIT, 2 p.m.

KENNESAW, Ga. – Sophomore Fermin Calvo Barcelo won at No. 3 singles to clinch his third straight match as the Kennesaw State men's tennis team defeated USC Upstate, 5-2, Wednesday in the teams' ASUN Conference opener.
 
The Owls improved to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in ASUN play with their sixth consecutive victory. Kennesaw State is one win from breaking the program's Division-I record for longest streak (six last season), and one win shy of tying the KSU record for wins in a season (10 in 2016 and 2012). The Owls also improved to 8-0 in home matches, adding to its program record for home wins.
 
Calvo Barcelo, who has clinched three consecutive matches for the Owls, extended his singles winning streak to six with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 3. The sophomore has clinched four of the last five matches, and five of the last seven.
 
"Fermin just keeps clinching matches for us," said Director of Tennis Eduardo Rincon. "I'm proud of the way we played today and handled our business. Upstate is a good team. They are very well coached and always get better as the season moves on. I have great respect for that program – my brother Jose played there – and they've had our number recently. It's always great to get a conference win, and now we'll turn our focus to NJIT this weekend."
 
Wednesday's victory marked Kennesaw State's first in the series versus Upstate (4-11, 0-1).
 
The Owls got things started by grabbing the doubles point as Calvo Barcelo teamed with Sam Slade for a 6-1 win at No. 3, while Simon Pritchard and Lucas de Torres Curth clinched with a 6-4 win on No. 1.
 
Pritchard, who on Wednesday was tapped the ASUN Player of the Week, finished off a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles to extend KSU's lead in the match to 2-1. Senior Jake Bouchillon made it 3-1 with his 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 6, followed by Calvo Barcelo's win.
 
With the match in hand, de Torres Curth rallied from a set down to win 6-0 in the second set and 14-12 in a marathon 10-point final set tiebreaker.
 
The Owls hit the road for the first time in ASUN play on Saturday at NJIT. First serve is set for 2 p.m.
 
Singles
1. Simon Pritchard (KSU) def. Felix Ewers (UPST) 6-4, 6-1
2. Lenhard Haupt (UPST) def. Sam Slade (KSU) 6-2, 6-1
3. Fermin Calvo Barcelo (KSU) def. Ankush Arora (UPST) 6-4, 6-2
4. Lucas de Torres Curth (KSU) def. Fernando Bernardes (UPST) 4-6, 6-0, 14-12
5. Ignacio Garrido (UPST) def. Drew Wendel (KSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Jake Bouchillon (KSU) def. Francisco Neto (UPST) 6-2, 6-3
 
Doubles
1. Simon Pritchard/Lucas de Torres Curth (KSU) def. Fernando Bernardes/Ignacio Garrido (UPST) 6-4
2. David Durham/Drew Wendel (KSU) vs. Felix Ewers/Lenhard Haupt (UPST) 5-5, unfinished
3. Fermin Calvo Barcelo/Sam Slade (KSU) def. Ankush Arora/Francisco Neto (UPST) 6-1
 
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,6,3,5,4)
 
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