CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 16 Queens University of Charlotte men's tennis team was upset by Tusculum University, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon at the Howard Levine Tennis Center.
 
Despite playing without one its top performers, Queens was able to take an early lead with two victories in doubles play. The 40^th-ranked duo of Paolo Bompieri and Joel Dunlap began the day with a 6-1 win at No. 1, while Sebastian Meum and Kasper Rolfsen won 6-2 at No. 2 to secure the point.
 
Tusculum opened singles play with a win to even the match score before junior No. 44 Agustin Aran Martin picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win over the nation's 36^th-ranked singles player, David Akinpetide.
 
Meum followed with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) win at No. 5 to give Queens a one-point lead. However, the Pioneers closed singles play with three straight wins to steal the road victory.
 
The Royals hit the road on Saturday, March 30, for their next match in Harrogate, Tennessee. First serve against Lincoln Memorial University is set for 10 a.m.
 
Tusculum 4, #16 Queens University of Charlotte 3
 
Singles competition
1. #44 Agustin Aran Martin (QUEENSM) def. #36 David Akinpetide (TU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Tomas Almeida (TU) def. Paolo Bompieri (QUEENSM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
3. #73 Yago Fernandez (TU) def. Mathias Degardin (QUEENSM) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Manuel Almeida (TU) def. Joel Dunlap (QUEENSM) 6-1, 6-3
5. Sebastian Meum (QUEENSM) def. Vadzim Raitsou (TU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Gabriel Yaguar (TU) def. Kasper Rolfsen (QUEENSM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. #40 Paolo Bompieri/Joel Dunlap (QUEENSM) def. David Akinpetide/Gabriel Yaguar (TU) 6-1
2. Sebastian Meum/Kasper Rolfsen (QUEENSM) def. Manuel Almeida/Tomas Almeida (TU) 6-2
3. Yago Fernandez/Marco Meon (TU) def. Agustin Aran Martin/Mathias Degardin (QUEENSM) 7-6 (7-4)
 
Match Notes:
Tusculum 9-3, 4-1 SAC; Regional ranking #10
Queens University of Charlotte 8-4, 4-2 SAC; National ranking #16; Regional ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (4,1,5,6,2,3)