SAINT LEO, Fla. – For a consecutive season, the Saint Leo men's tennis team earned an opening round victory in the first round of NCAA Division II South Regionals as it won by a 4-3 margin versus No. 7 seed Florida Southern on Monday afternoon. The Lions secured the No. 2 seed and hosting rights for South Region 2.

The Lions captured the doubles' point by sweeping the first two doubles matches. The 28th-ranked duo of Luis Iriarte and Martin Soukal collected a 6-2 victory at first doubles followed by Nicolas Bacella and Ghali Mensour earning a 6-1 win at second doubles.

In singles action, second-ranked Soukal battled for a 6-1, 7-6 (8-6) victory in the first singles match. The Mocs claimed the following three singles contests to grasp a 3-2 lead before Dylan Andrianaly posted a 6-1, 6-1 win at fifth singles while Kodai Kato secured a Lions win with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory at sixth singles.

(2) #1 Saint Leo 4, (7) #15 Florida Southern 3

DOUBLES
1. #28 Luis Iriarte/Martin Soukal (SLU) def. #21 Chris Fok Kow/Mario Garoz (FSCM) 6-2
2. Nicolas Bacella/Ghali Mensour (SLU) def. Matteo Feggi/Ryan Rajakar (FSCM) 6-1
3. Eduardo Cohen/Vincent Thiel (SLU) vs. Inaki Braun Simo/George Russell (FSCM) 4-4, UF

SINGLES
1. #2 Martin Soukal (SLU) def. #63 George Russell (FSCM) 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
2. #24 Chris Fok Kow (FSCM) def. #8 Vincent Thiel (SLU) 6-1, 6-1
3. #70 Mario Garoz (FSCM) def. Nicolas Bacella (SLU) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Bosko Boskovic (FSCM) def. Ghail Mensour (SLU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Dylan Andrianaly (SLU) def. Gabriel Jornert (FSCM) 6-1, 6-1
6. Kodai Kato (SLU) def. Edoardo Melindo (FSCM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

The Lions will return to action tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14 as they will face the No. 3 seed Rollins at 11 a.m. for an opportunity to advance to the first round of the men's tennis national championship tournament.

Order of Finish:
SINGLES: 2,1
DOUBLES: 2,5,4,1,3,6