RANKED ROAD WARRIORS: No. 8 Wallace State Rallies Past No. 11 Coastal Alabama South 5-4 in Conference Thriller

HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Staring down a 2-1 deficit after doubles play on the road against a ranked opponent, the No. 8 Wallace State Lions didn't flinch. The Lions stormed back through singles to defeat No. 11 Coastal Alabama South 5-4 on Thursday, March 12, in a hard-fought ACCC conference road match, pushing their record to 11-0 and serving notice that this team has the resolve to win when it matters most.

Coastal South seized the doubles point by winning two of three courts. The home side took Court 1 as Gimenez and Velasco defeated Grube and Gautier, 8-2, and Court 3 fell to Cordeau and Yanez over Surapaneni and William Johnson, 8-4. Wallace State stayed alive in doubles through Van Wyk and Tom Kopf, who battled through a tiebreaker to claim Court 2, 9-7. But with Coastal South holding the doubles edge, the Lions faced a must-win situation entering singles — and they answered emphatically.

Singles play became a showcase of Wallace State's depth and mental toughness. Angel Gautier got the Lions on the board at Court 2, dispatching Gimenez 6-2, 6-3 in straight sets. Luka Uzelac followed with a gritty three-set triumph over Velasco at Court 4 — dropping the second set before regrouping to win 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 — giving Wallace State two crucial points. Tom Kopf delivered at Court 5, knocking off Guyot 6-3, 7-5 to put the Lions one win away. William Johnson then delivered the clincher at Court 6, outlasting Yanez in a tense three-set battle, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(3), to seal the 5-4 final and send Wallace State to 11-0.

Coastal South won Court 1 as Cordeau edged Grube in a three-set battle, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, and Court 3 went to the home side as Olagnon defeated Van Wyk, 6-2, 6-2. But those were the last points Coastal South would earn. The Lions' ability to win four of six singles courts against a nationally ranked opponent away from home speaks to the character developing within this program.

MATCH RESULTS
No. 8 Wallace State 5, No. 11 Coastal Alabama South 4
Doubles
1. Gimenez / Velasco (CAS) def. Alexander Grube / Angel Gautier (WSCC), 8-2
2. Francois Van Wyk / Tom Kopf (WSCC) def. Guyot / Olagnon (CAS), 9-7 (TB)
3. Cordeau / Yanez (CAS) def. Nikith Surapaneni / William Johnson (WSCC), 8-4

Singles
1. Cordeau (CAS) def. Alexander Grube (WSCC), 7-5, 5-7, 6-2
2. Angel Gautier (WSCC) def. Gimenez (CAS), 6-2, 6-3
3. Olagnon (CAS) def. Francois Van Wyk (WSCC), 6-2, 6-2
4. Luka Uzelac (WSCC) def. Velasco (CAS), 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
5. Tom Kopf (WSCC) def. Guyot (CAS), 6-3, 7-5
6. William Johnson (WSCC) def. Yanez (CAS), 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3)