DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The top-seeded Embry-Riddle men's tennis team captured its sixth consecutive Sun Conference Tournament title with a 5-0 win over third-seeded Webber International on Saturday evening. Ranked No. 1 in the NAIA, the Eagles played two matches in the same day to win the crown and improved their overall record to 18-3.

The Eagles began the day by finishing their semifinal match that was suspended after doubles due to bad weather on Friday evening. The Blue and Gold matched up against fourth-seeded Northwood in the semis and took a 2-1 lead after doubles into Saturday's action. The Eagles further extended their advantage when Deni Zmak set a new ERAU single-season record for singles wins with 31, courtesy of a 6-3, 6-1 decision against Alvaro Iturriaga at the top spot. At No. 4 singles, Luke de Caires easily won the first set 6-1, but fought off a stiff challenge from Nikita Borodatov, winning 7-6 with a 14-12 edge in the super tiebreaker to send the Eagles into the championship.

ERAU got off to a fast start in the title match against WIU with a 3-0 sweep in doubles. At the top spot, Zmak and Simon Felix teamed up for their 30th doubles win of the season with an 8-1 decision against Mislav Colak and Justus Klocke, marking the third time in Felix's career that he has hit the 30-win threshhold in doubles competition in a single season. De Caires and Miguel Lopez Gomez were next off the court following their 8-3 defeat of Firmiano Filho and Nicklas Kammer, and Patrick Besch and Jaime Sanchez-Canamares Rios completed the sweep by topping Jonathan Cohen and Rodrigo Santibanez 8-2 at No. 2.

Lopez Gomez registered the first singles point for ERAU, downing Rodrigo Santibanez 6-0, 6-2 on court five to widen the gap in favor of the home team.

With Sanchez-Canamares sitting out of singles play due to an injury, Besch moved up to the No. 2 spot in the singles lineup. Playing in his final match at the Crotty Tennis Complex, the senior recorded the clinching point by besting Cohen 6-4, 6-2.

"I thought the guys did good job today," ERAU Head Coach Dave Paschal said. "We played really well at doubles. To me, that's one of the best matches I've seen Luke and Miguel play and I was very happy with how they've progressed. It was nice to Jaime go out there and tough it out with an injury that he had; he played very well. I was also very happy for Pat who played very well in the last home match of his career at Embry-Riddle."

"We've kept the streak alive of being unbeaten in the conference for 10 years," Paschal continued. "Now is the time to have some fun and get ready to go play at nationals."

The conference tournament title secured a spot for the Eagles in the 24-team NAIA National Tournament in Mobile, Ala., May 13-17. The tournament bracket will be announced on May 4.

"For me personally, it was nice to clinch in my last game here," Besch said. "The tournament was perfect preparation for us as we get ready for nationals in the next couple of weeks."

Embry-Riddle 5, Webber International 0

Singles competition
1. Deni Zmak (ERAUMT13) vs. Nicklas Kammer (WIU) 6-3, 5-0, unfinished
2. Patrick Besch (ERAUMT13) def. Jonathan Cohen (WIU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Simon Felix (ERAUMT13) vs. Mislav Colak (WIU) 2-6, 1-4, unfinished
4. Luke de Caires (ERAUMT13) vs. Justus Klocke (WIU) 5-7, 2-1, unfinished
5. Miguel Lopez Gomez (ERAUMT13) def. Rodrigo Santibanez (WIU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Juan Verberne (ERAUMT13) vs. Firmiano Filho (WIU) 1-6, 5-4, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Simon Felix/Deni Zmak (ERAUMT13) def. Justus Klocke/Mislav Colak (WIU) 8-2
2. Patrick Besch/Jaime Sanchez-Canama (ERAUMT13) def. Rodrigo Santibanez/Jonathan Cohen (WIU) 8-2
3. Miguel Lopez Gomez/Luke de Caires (ERAUMT13) def. Firmiano Filho/Nicklas Kammer (WIU) 8-3

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,2)