ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Methodist took the doubles point and held on in singles to defeat Pfeiffer 4-3 on Thursday in the USA South Tournament, ending the Falcons' postseason run at the Slick Family Foundation Tennis Center in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
The Monarchs claimed the crucial opening point by winning two of the three doubles matches. Matthew Hurley and Decklan Rayner opened with a 6-4 win over
Valter Albuquerque and
Jayden Wellman at No. 1 doubles, while Harry Crokam and Aaron Zoubek followed with a 6-4 victory against
Hugo Kezen and
Aden Burgoyne at No. 2.
Pfeiffer earned a response at No. 3, where
Bogdan Stan and
Aissultan Mukhambetov defeated Billy Johnson and Andrew Waddill 6-1, but Methodist secured the doubles point.
Singles play proved tightly contested, with both teams winning three matches each. Methodist picked up straight-set victories at the top two positions. Hurley defeated Albuquerque 6–4, 6–2 at No. 1, and Crokam topped Mukhambetov 6–3, 7–5 at No. 2.
Zoubek clinched the match for the Monarchs at No. 3, edging Wellman 6–3, 7–6 (7–1).
Pfeiffer earned its three points in singles with strong performances in the middle and lower lineup. Stan won 6-4, 6-2 over Rayner at No. 4, Kezen cruised past Johnson 6–1, 6–4 at No. 5, and Burgoyne rallied for a three-set victory at No. 6, defeating Waddill 6–3, 1–6, 6–2.
The loss ends Pfeiffer's season with an overall record of 15-4, the best record in Pfeiffer's Division III era.
