LAKELAND, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle men's tennis team used two doubles and four singles wins to top NCAA II foe Florida Southern 6-3 on Wednesday. The win improved the Eagles' overall record to 15-3, while the Moccasins, ranked No. 32 in NCAA II, fall to 11-8.

The Eagles built a 2-1 lead early in the contest, courtesy of wins at the top two doubles positions. Patrick Besch and Jaime Sanchez-Canamares Rios notched the Eagles' first point with an 8-5 decision against Vladimir Barabash and Nathan Leavitt at No. 2 doubles. Deni Zmak and Simon Felix extended the advantage to 2-0 with an 8-6 win over Emanuel Lueber and Benoit Paradis at the top spot, but the Moccasins got a point back when Charles Garneau and Carl Lundberg won a tight 9-8 (7-4) battle over Luke de Caires and Miguel Lopez Gomez on court three.

At No. 5 singles, Lundberg pulled FSC even with the Eagles by topping de Caires 6-2, 6-1, but Felix put the Eagles back on top with his 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Barabash at the fourth position. Zmak further widened the gap with a 6-3, 6-3 decision against Paradis at No. 1 singles and Besch clinched the win for the Blue and Gold by besting Leavitt 6-3, 6-1 at the third spot.

Florida Southern got its third point of the day when Lueber managed to hold off Sanchez-Canamares on court two. Lopez Gomez capped the Eagles' scoring with a 6-2, 6-1 defeat of Tony D'Angelo at the sixth position.

The Eagles will close out the regular season at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday when they travel to Lake Wales to take on Sun Conference opponent Warner.


#1 Embry-Riddle 6, #32 Florida Southern 3

Singles competition
1. Deni Zmak (ERAUMT13) def. Benoit Paradis (FSCM) 6-3, 6-3
2. Emanuel Lueber (FSCM) def. #24 Jaime Sanche-Canamares (ERAUMT13) 6-4, 3-6, 10-7
3. Patrick Besch (ERAUMT13) def. Nathan Leavitt (FSCM) 6-3, 6-1
4. #38 Simon Felix (ERAUMT13) def. Vladimir Barabash (FSCM) 6-4, 6-2
5. Carl Lundberg (FSCM) def. Luke de Caires (ERAUMT13) 6-2, 6-1
6. Miguel Lopez Gomez (ERAUMT13) def. Tony D'Angelo (FSCM) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. #1 Simon Felix/Deni Zmak (ERAUMT13) def. Emanuel Lueber/Benoit Paradis (FSCM) 8-6
2. Patrick Besch/Jaime Sanche-Canamares (ERAUMT13) def. Vladimir Barabash/Nathan Leavitt (FSCM) 8-5
3. Charles Garneau/Carl Lundberg (FSCM) def. Luke de Caires/Miguel Lopez Gomez (ERAUMT13) 9-8 (7-4)

Match Notes:
Embry-Riddle 15-3; National ranking #1
Florida Southern 11-8; National ranking #32; Regional ranking #8
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,4,1,3,2,6)
Becsh clinched at No. 3 singles