CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 13 Queens University of Charlotte men's tennis team handed Tusculum University its first South Atlantic Conference loss of the season and won its third straight match with a 4-3 victory on Saturday at the Howard Levine Tennis Center.
 
"This was a very tough match. Tusculum has a great team and made us work for everything," said Head Tennis Coach Billy Boykin. "We were in real danger today down 3-1 on the scoreboard. Credit to our guys, though, they never stopped competing. The last guys on really dialed in a played some of their best tennis in the biggest moments. Jan's win – and energy – were big for us. He put us back in the match."
 
The Royals won the doubles points with wins at Nos. 1 and 2, including a dominant 6-1 win by the duo of Edoaro Bottino/Edoardo Cecere.
 
In singles play, the Pioneers won at No. 1, 4 and 5 to take a 3-1 match lead and looked to be on the verge of victory until Jan Malmon kept the contest alive with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6.
 
Paolo Bompieri rallied for a comeback win at No. 2 via a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 score to tie the match at three-all before Cecere clinched the win with a 7-5, 6-4 victory in the third flight.
 
"Paolo showed terrific leadership and poise out there today. He was down in the third, but kept his cool and played with tremendous focus and positivity to even the match up," continued Boykin. "Cecere was also in a hole in the second set, but put in a rock-solid effort to flip the set and clinch the match for us. He is one of our hardest workers and toughest outs."
 
The Royals host UVA Wise tomorrow in the second match of a two-game homestand.
 
#13 Queens University of Charlotte 4, Tusculum University 3
 
Singles competition
1. Dmitry Bezborodov (TU) def. Edoardo Bottino (QUEENSM) 6-4, 6-1
2. Paolo Bompieri (QUEENSM) def. Nemanja Subanovic (TU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Edoardo Cecere (QUEENSM) def. Frank Bonacia (TU) 7-5, 6-4
4. Leon Huck (TU) def. Yoan Roussinov (QUEENSM) 6-1, 7-5
5. Manuel Almeida (TU) def. Berk Enc (QUEENSM) 6-2, 6-3
6. Jan Malmon (QUEENSM) def. Kenta Kondou (TU) 6-4, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Paolo Bompieri/Kasper Rolfsen (QUEENSM) def. Leon Huck/Nemanja Subanovic (TU) 6-3
2. Edoardo Bottino/Edoardo Cecere (QUEENSM) def. Dmitry Bezborodov/Frank Bonacia (TU) 6-1
3. Kenta Kondou/Manuel Almeida (TU) def. Berk Enc/Jan Malmon (QUEENSM) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
Tusculum University 7-2, 3-1 SAC
Queens University of Charlotte 9-2, 7-1 SAC; National ranking #13
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,5,6,2,3)