Mocs Get Hard Earned Victory Over SSC Foe Florida Tech

MELBOURNE â€" After suffering a heartbreaking 6-3 South Region loss to West Alabama last week, 29th-ranked Florida Southern battled back to defeat Sunshine State Conference foe Florida Tech by a match score of 6-3 here on the campus of Florida Tech.

In Tuesday’s win the Mocs got the early advantage winning two of the three doubles matches to go up 2-1 heading into singles. The Mocs would get their two wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Nathan Leavitt and Vladimir Barabash would continue playing well at No. 2 after winning 8-4 over their Panther opponents. Barabash and Leavitt are 8-2 in their last 10 doubles matches which included a six match win streak before last week’s loss to West Alabama. At No. 3, the doubles team of Carl Lundberg and Jorge Gutierrez pulled out a 9-8 (7-4). Since being paired together six matches ago, Lundberg and Gutierrez have gone 5-1overall in doubles matches.

In singles play the Mocs were able to build on their advantage from doubles winning four of the six singles matches to earn the 6-3 victory. The Mocs picked up the singles victories at No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6. Four out of the six singles matches would go three sets with the Mocs splitting the four with the Panthers. At No. 2 and No. 6 the Mocs would get straight set victories.

Benoit Paradis defeated his opponent 6-4, 6-4 at No. 2 while Gutierrez defeated his opponent 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6. With the Mocs up 4-1, there were still four singles matches playing on court, which all four went three sets. Clinching the victory for FSC was Barabash who was playing at No. 4 for the Mocs; he defeated Riley Lorenz 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Also winning at singles for the Mocs was Lundberg; he defeated Patrick Hernandez 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 winning at No. 3. Lundberg dug deep and battled out of a 5-0 hole in the third and final set to come away with the 7-5 victory and secure the singles match.

The Mocs will head to Pensacola, Fla. to take on three opponents this weekend; Alabama-Huntsville, Delta State and West Florida. Their first match is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. etd. on Friday April 5.