LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—The Southern Athletic Association men's tennis tournament final is set, and Oglethorpe will face Sewanee after an incredible win over Rhodes, 4-2, in the semifinals on Saturday. The Stormy Petrels avenged a 4-2 loss to the Lynx from the regular season with their eighth win in the last 10 matches.
Four singles matches went to a third set, including Bailey Raymond's match on court three, where he clinched the spot in the championship with a come-from-behind win, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. Almost simultaneously as Raymond's win, Kellen Simmons turned in his own three-set victory at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win.
Oglethorpe played with much energy and momentum, which started when the Stormy Petrels, despite losing two of the doubles and trailing in the third during the regular season, took Saturday's doubles point with big wins from Simmons/Figge Pernfors at No. 2 and Zack Raymond/Callum Searle at No. 3.
Both pairs won 6-2 to give Oglethorpe the early edge, then Noah George finished the first singles match with a 6-1, 6-3 win to make it 2-0. Rhodes bounced back with wins at No. 4 and No. 2 to tie things up 2-2, but Simmons and B. Raymond's decisions sealed the deal.
Match Notes
- Simmons' victory at No. 1 avenged a loss from the same Rhodes player during the regular season. It marked his seventh singles win of the year.
- B. Raymond improved to 13-3 this season, leading the team in singles.
- George improved to 9-5, including 6-2 at No. 6 singles.
- Simmons/Pernfors won for the 11th time together in doubles this year.
Up Next
Oglethorpe faces top-seed No. 19 Sewanee for the SAA title Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. The winner earns an automatic qualifier to the NCAA National Championships.
