Box Score BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The Fire couldn't recreate their magic from last month. After pulling off a regular season upset, Southeastern University saw its run end Friday morning with a 4-0 loss to No. 3-ranked Keiser University in the Sun Conference Men's Tennis Championship.
The Seahawks started fast, winning the two completed doubles matches by a combined 12-1 score to take a 1-0 lead. Keiser then added singles victories at the sixth and first positions to extend its advantage. Mark Griffin battled hard for SEU at fifth singles but fell short despite a second-set rally, dropping a 1-6, 4-6 decision to Keiser's Gilad Tamar.
It marks the third time in four years that the Seahawks (16-2) edged the Fire (16-2) in the conference title match. Southeastern had previously broken through earlier this season with a 4-3 win over Keiser on March 22 in Lakeland.
When play was halted, both Diego Menendez and Javier Gallego were leading in their singles matches. Menendez was tied 6-6 in the first set against Keiser's Shaheed Alam, while Gallego had won his opening set 6-4 and was tied 2-2 in the second against Felipe Rivadeneira.
In doubles action, Yassir Kilani and Mathiew Strauss secured the second doubles match for Keiser with a 6-0 win over Gonzalo Fernandez and Gallego. Heber Santos and Tamar clinched the team doubles point with a 6-1 victory over SEU's Piero Fernandez and Menendez.
Santos continued his strong play by defeating Gonzalo Fernandez 6-0, 6-0 at sixth singles, and Kilani followed by besting Piero Fernandez 6-1, 6-1 at the top spot.
Griffin and Leonardo Chiari were holding their own at third doubles against Keiser's Simone Boscatto and Alam, trailing 4-2 when play was halted.
Strauss held a 2-6, 2-3 advantage over Chiari in the final unfinished singles match when the action was paused.
The Fire will now await their postseason seeding as they anticipate an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament, which will be announced on April 29th.
