DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The sixth-ranked Embry-Riddle men's tennis team closed out its 2016 campaign with a 12-3 overall record after falling to NCAA II No. 2 Saint Leo, 5-1, Tuesday at the Crotty Tennis Complex. Seniors Deni Zmak, Juan Verberne, Fabian Zierleyn and Miguel Lopez Gomez were recognized prior to participating in the final match of their collegiate careers.
 
The highlight of the day for the Blue and Gold came at No. 1 doubles where 13^th-ranked Zmak and Juan Ortiz Couder toppled second-ranked Alberto Barroso-Campos and Alex Theiler 8-5. The Lions were able to win the other two doubles points, however, as Egor Panyushkin and Jaime Bueno topped Fabian Zierleyn and Carlos Becke 8-4, and Francisco Aparicio and Oskar Nurmio bested Juan Verberne and Roberto Cuellar Rangel 8-4.
 
In singles, sixth-ranked Zmak won his first set against third-ranked Barroso-Campos 6-1 and was up 2-1 in the second, while Ortiz Couder led Aparicio 6-3, 4-0 at the fifth spot. Luke de Caires lost his first set 6-4 on court six, but bested Elliott Carnello 6-0 to force a third set. However, before any of those three singles matches could be played out, the Lions got the three points they needed for the victory with wins at the second, third and fourth positions.
 
One of the most decorated student-athletes in program history, Zmak closed out his career with 95 singles and 99 doubles victories, which rank third and second all-time in the Eagles' record books. The senior quartet combined for a 78-13 record over four seasons and helped the Blue and Gold to three Sun Conference regular season and tournament titles, three NAIA national championship appearances, two national runner-up finishes, and the 2013 NAIA national title.
 
Tennis Match Results
Saint Leovs Embry-Riddle
Apr 19, 2016 at Daytona Beach, Fla.
(Crotty Tennis Complex)
 
#3 Saint Leo5, #6 Embry-Riddle 1
 
 Singles competition
1. #6 Deni Zmak (ERAUMT15) vs. #3 A. Barroso-Campos (SLM16) 6-1, 2-1, unfinished
2. Alex Theiler (SLM16) def. Fabian Zierleyn (ERAUMT15) 6-1,  6-1
3. #15 Egor Panyushkin (SLM16) def. Carlos Becke (ERAUMT15) 6-2, 6-2
4. Jaime Bueno (SLM16) def. Rodolfo Arreygue (ERAUMT15) 6-2, 6-1
5. Juan Ortiz Couder (ERAUMT15) vs. Francisco Aparicio (SLM16) 6-3, 4-0, unfinished
6. Luke de Caires (ERAUMT15) vs. Elliot Carnello (SLM16) 4-6, 6-0, unfinished
 
 Doubles competition
1. #6 Deni Zmak/Juan Ortiz Couder (ERAUMT15) def. #2 A. Barroso-Campos/Alex Theiler (SLM16) 8-5
2. Egor Panyushkin/Jaime Bueno (SLM16) def. #21 Fabian Zierleyn/Carlos Becke (ERAUMT15) 8-4
3. Francisco Aparicio/Oskar Nurmio (SLM16) def. Roberto Cuellar/Juan Verberne (ERAUMT15) 8-4
 
Match Notes:
Saint Leo19-1; National ranking #3
Embry-Riddle 12-3; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,4,3)
Panyushkin clinched at No. 3 singles
T-2:38