SAVANNAH, Ga. – For the second straight year, The Sun Conference men's tennis tournament championship trophy was presented to the Embry-Riddle men's tennis team after the top-seeded Eagles downed No. 2 seed St. Thomas 5-1 in the title match at the Bacon Park Tennis Courts on Sunday. With the victory, the Eagles, who are ranked third in the NAIA, secured a spot in the NAIA National Tournament that takes place at the Copeland Cox Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala., May 18-22.

The Eagles opened the match with a strong doubles performance, dropping just six games in three doubles contests. First to finish was the ERAU tandem of Charlie Rice and Zander Woodford-Smith who improved their 2010 doubles record to 10-2 with an 8-1 defeat of Andrew Rifkin and Federico Acevedo at the No. 3 spot. Next off the court was the Eagle team of Jan Hoekzema who registered an 8-2 victory over Adrian Escarate and Esteban Mesa at the top spot. Pairing up for only the second time this season, seniors Luke Maricic and Istvan Bolgar completed the doubles sweep with an 8-2 decision of Jeremy Bache and Gonzalo Gayoso.

The Bobcats got a point back after Hoekzema had to retire against Escarate at the No. 1 position in the singles lineup. Bolgar made quick work of Jeremy Bache in his singles match, blanking the Bobcats' No. 4 player 6-0, 6-0 to put the Blue and Gold up 4-1.

Maricic followed the lead of his senior teammate and dispatched Mesa 6-1, 6-2 at No. 6 singles to clinch the win.

The Eagles are now 18-5 on the year, while the Bobcats move to 11-6 on the year.