ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The top-ranked and third seed Saint Leo University men's tennis team is moving on to the NCAA semifinals for the second time since 2016. The Lions posted their second 4-0 win of the championship to defeat the 11 seed #20 Wayne State (Mich.) on Wednesday morning.
 
Saint Leo improved to 24-3 on the season and are now 6-2 in neutral site contests.
In doubles play, Saint Leo earned wins at number three and one to clinch the doubles point. The number three doubles pair of Eduardo Cohen and Vincent Thiel opened the match with a 6-1 victory. #28 Luis Iriarte and Martin Soukal clinched the doubles point for the Green and Gold with a 6-3 win at number one doubles over the number one doubles pair in the nation, Cedric Drenth and Daniel Grey. Nicolas Bacella and Ghali Mensour's match went unfinished as the duo was trailing 5-4 when the double point was clinched on court one.
 
For the second straight match, Saint Leo earned three singles wins before its opponent tallied a point. Also, for the second straight match, Dylan Andrianaly put the Lions up 2-0 with a 6-2 and 6-3 victory. Luis Iriarte made it a 3-0 Lions lead with 6-3 and 6-2 victory at number six singles. After blanking his opponent in the first set, 6-0, Ghali Mensour clinched the match point and a spot in the national semifinals for the Lions with a 7-5 victory in the second set. Nicolas Bacella battled through a hard fought first set as he turned an early deficit into a 7-6(4) first set win.
 
(3) #1 SAINT LEO 4, (11) #20 WAYNE STATE (Mich.) 0
DOUBLES

1. #28 Luis Iriarte/Martin Soukal (SLU) def. #1 Cedeic Drenth/Daniel Grey (WSU) 6-3
2. Nicolas Bacella/Ghali Mensour (SLU) def. #27 Luke Laws/Dom Spicer (WSU) 4-5 UF
3. Eduardo Cohen/Vincent Theil (SLU) def. Emil Mikkelsen/Joe Steele (WSU) 6-1

SINGLES

1. #2 Martin Soukal (SLU) vs. #5 Daniel Grey (WSU) 6-3, 5-6 UF
2. #8 Vincent Thiel (SLU) def. #14 Cedric Drenth (WSU) 2-6, 5-6 UF
3. Nicolas Bacella (SLU) vs. Dom Spicer (WSU) 7-6(4) 2-3 UF
4. Ghali Mensour (SLU) def. Denali Kitayama (WSU) 6-0, 7-5
5. Dylan Andrianaly (SLU) def. Luke Laws (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Luis Iriarte (SLU) def. Emil Mikkelsen (WSU) 6-3, 6-2

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo advances to the national semifinals where it will face the 2-seed #3 Valdosta State at 9 a.m. on Friday morning at the Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.