CHAMPIONS! Asheville Captures Big South Conference Men's Tennis Championship

Charlotte — (WLOS) For the first time since 1986, UNC Asheville Men’s Tennis is the Big South Conference Champion after a 4-1 victory over top-seeded Gardner-Webb on Monday (Apr. 22).

Asheville rallied after dropping two out of three doubles matches falling behind 1-0 headed to singles play.

Sam Nicholson got the match tied 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Alex Lepine at No. 2, before Bruno Serra beat Chrisjan Van Wyk 6-1, 6-4 at No. 5 to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-1. Jon Brann Reid put Asheville up 3-1 with a 6-3, 7-5 win at No 3 over Numa Lemieux-Monette, before Tarek Erlewein clinched the match with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Kim Niethammer.

Doubles competition

1. Eduardo Dias/Chrisjan Van Wyk (GWU) vs. Jon Brann Reid/Rafa Serra (Asheville) 5-5, unfinished

2. Numa Lemieux-Monette/Jurie Terblanche (GWU) def. Cian Ingles/Bruno Serra (Asheville) 6-4

3. Alex Lepine/John Spring (GWU) def. Freddy Murray/Sam Nicholson (Asheville) 6-3

Singles competition

1. Eduardo Dias (GWU) vs. Freddy Murray (Asheville) 6-1, 3-6, 2-2, unfinished

2. Sam Nicholson (Asheville) def. Alex Lepine (GWU) 6-2, 6-0

3. Jon Brann Reid (Asheville) def. Numa Lemieux-Monette (GWU) 6-2, 7-5

4. Tarek Erlewein (Asheville) def. Kim Niethammer (GWU) 6-3, 7-5

5. Bruno Serra (Asheville) def. Chrisjan Van Wyk (GWU) 6-1, 6-4

6. Johan Van Wijk (GWU) vs. Rafa Serra (Asheville) 6-4, 6-6 (2-4), unfinished

The Bulldogs (16-7) advance to the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship for the first time in program history. The NCAA selection show is set for next Monday (Apr. 29) at 6:00 p.m. at www.ncaa.com.