MOBILE, Ala. -- For the second straight year, the Embry-Riddle men's tennis team was unable to solve Georgia Gwinnett, as the second-seeded Eagles fell to the top-seeded Grizzlies (15-2) 5-0 in the championship match of the 2015 NAIA National Tournament. The Eagles finished the year at 21-4 overall and capped their final season in the NAIA as national runners-up for the third time in program history.

Georgia Gwinnett gained an early advantage by winning all three doubles points. At No. 3 doubles Lachlan McPhee and Luke Morlan downed ERAU's Miguel Lopez Gomez and Rodolfo Arreygue, 8-2. Jordan Cox and Kevin Konfederak edged Deni Zmak and Jaime Sanchez-Canamares Rios 8-6 at the top spot and Matias Hatem and Connor Clements capped the sweep with an 8-4 win on court two.

In singles play, Clements got the Grizzlies' fourth point with a 6-2, 6-2 decision against Becke on court four. Zmak and Arreygue won the first sets on courts one and six, respectively, while both Sanchez-Canamares and Luke de Caires held second-set leads after dropping the first set. But an Eagle rally did not come in time as sixth-ranked Hatem clinched the win for the Grizzlies by topping Zierleyn 6-1, 6-3 at the third spot.

As members of the NAIA, the ERAU men made 16 consecutive national tournament appearances, advanced to the national semifinals 11 times, and played in four title matches, bringing home a national championship in 2013.


#1 Georgia Gwinnett 5, #2 Embry-Riddle 0

 Singles competition
1. #2 Jordan Cox (GGC) vs. #1 Deni Zmak (ERAUMT14) 6-7 (6-8), 4-3, unfinished
2. #5 Kevin Konfederak (GGC) vs. #17 Jaime Sanchez-Canama (ERAUMT14) 6-0, 4-5, unfinished
3. #6 Matias Hatem (GGC) def. Fabian Zierleyn (ERAUMT14) 6-1, 6-3
4. Connor Clements (GGC) def. Carlos Becke (ERAUMT14) 6-2, 6-2
5. Lachlan McPhee (GGC) vs. Luke de Caires (ERAUMT14) 7-6 (7-3), 3-4, unfinished
6. Stefano Licata (GGC) vs. Rodolfo Arreygue (ERAUMT14) 3-6, 3-5, unfinished

 Doubles competition
1. Jordan Cox/Kevin Konfederak (GGC) def. Deni Zmak/Jaime Sanchez-Canama (ERAUMT14) 8-6
2. Matias Hatem/Connor Clements (GGC) def. Fabian Zierleyn/Carlos Becke (ERAUMT14) 8-4
3. Lachlan McPhee/Luke Morlan (GGC) def. Miguel Lopez Gomez/Rodolfo Arreygue (ERAUMT14) 8-2

Match Notes:
Embry-Riddle 21-4; National ranking #2
Georgia Gwinnett 15-2; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,3)
NAIA National Championship