NEW ALBANY, Miss. — The Blue Mountain Christian men’s tennis team faced No. 22 UT Southern in its first conference match of the season, falling 5-2, according to school officials.
In doubles play, the Toppers were competitive on multiple courts. Adriaan Engelbrecht and Luis Lainer narrowly lost 7-5 on the No. 1 court, while Pablo Cruz and Kevin Kotzé also fell 7-5 on the third court. Craig Blevins and Maj Langerholz were defeated 6-1 on the second court, giving UT Southern the early doubles point.
Singles play featured several close battles. Engelbrecht lost a third-set tiebreak after winning the second set 6-4. Cruz recorded a straight-set victory, 6-3, 7-6. Juan Daniel Aravelo lost 2-6, 0-6, and Blevins was defeated 6-0, 6-1. Kotzé pushed his match to a third set after winning the first 6-3 but ultimately fell 2-6 in the tiebreaker. Luis Lainer earned the lone point for Blue Mountain Christian with a 6-1, 6-3 win.
Despite the outcome, the match provided a strong early test for the Toppers as they continue their conference schedule, according to team officials.
