Men's Tennis | 4/13/2014 5:57:00 PM

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. -- Top-seeded N.C. Wesleyan defeated No. 3 seed Methodist, 6-3, on Sunday morning to claim the USA South Tournament championship.
 
In the early going, the host Battling Bishops (12-7) went ahead by a 2-1 margin after doubles action. The Monarchs' (19-7) No. 1 duo of Taylor Buchholz and Duncan Miller accounted for the team's lone point there as they grinded their way to an 9-8 (7-5) victory over Mikhail Konnov and Peter Hviid.
 
John Dangerfield gave Methodist another boost with a 7-5, 6-2 win versus Ben Tolhurst at No. 5 singles. Toward the end of the singles matches, the Monarchs drew within a single point of N.C. Wesleyan at 4-3 as Miller claimed a 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 1 singles against Konnov.
 
The attention then shifted to the two remaining draws at No. 3 and 4. Eventual USA South Tournament MVP Eduardo Ugalde would clinch the Bishops' title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament as he beat Dillon Sullivan at No. 4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. To close out the day, Hviid defeated Greg Patterson, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, at No. 3.
 
Representing Methodist on the All-Tournament Team were Miller and Buchholz. The Monarchs finish as the conference tournament runner-up and 19-7 overall.
 
No. 3 Methodist at No. 1 N.C. Wesleyan
 
Singles Competition
1. Duncan Miller (MU) def. Mikhail Konnov (NCWC) 7-5, 6-4
2. Elias Kerem (NCWC) def. Taylor Buchholz (MU) 6-0, 7-5
3. Peter Hviid (NCWC) def. Greg Patterson (MU) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
4. Eduardo Ugalde (NCWC) def. Dillon Sullivan (MU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. John Dangerfield (MU) def. Ben Tolhurst (NCWC) 7-5, 6-2
6. Philipp Vylegzhanin (NCWC) def. Max Mancini (MU) 6-1, 6-2
 
Doubles Competition
1. Taylor Buchholz/Duncan Miller (MU) def. Mikhail Konnov/Peter Hviid (NCWC) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Elias Kerem/Eduardo Ugalde (NCWC) def. John Dangerfield/Greg Patterson (MU) 8-2
3. Ben Tolhurst/Philipp Vylegzhanin (NCWC) def. Max Mancini/Dillon Sullivan (MU) 8-4
 
 
All-Tournament Team
 
Most Valuable Player - Eduardo Ugalde (N.C. Wesleyan)
Elias Kerem (N.C. Wesleyan)
Duncan Miller (Methodist)
Philipp Vylegzhanin (N.C. Wesleyan)
Taylor Buchholtz (Methodist)
Peter Hviid (N.C. Wesleyan)