ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. In the semifinals of the 2024 USA South Men's Tennis Tournament, the Methodist University men's tennis team came up just short of upsetting Pfeiffer University, with the Monarchs losing 4-5 to the Falcons.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Pfeiffer def. Methodist, 5-4
Records: Methodist 10-7, Pfeiffer 13-4
Location: Slick Family Foundation Tennis Center; Rocky Mount, North Carolina
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pfeiffer took a 2-0 lead following wins in Nos. 1 & 3 doubles. The Falcons were then denied of a doubles sweep as Methodist's Drew Guarnieri and Decklan Rayner won the No. 3 spot 8-6.
- Harry Crokam evened the overall match score, 2-2, for the Monarchs after he was victorious in No. 2 singles (6-4, 6-1). A win by Pfeiffer, on court three, put them back in front again until Methodist freshman Christian Tihanovich claimed a 6-4, 6-1 dub in No. 6 singles to tie the match again.
- For the first time in the match, the Monarchs went up 4-3 after Matthew Hurley came from behind and won No. 1 singles in three sets (4-6, 6-1, 6-0). Sometime later, the Falcons tied the match themselves, third time today, following a 6-3, 7-5 win on court four.
- It all came down to No. 5 singles to determine the winner for the match, a flight that Rayner was playing in for Methodist. Rayner dropped the opening set, 4-6, before storming back to take the second set 7-5. In the pivotal third set, Rayner ended up losing 2-6.
