RANKED ROAD SWEEP: No. 8 Wallace State Men's Tennis Tops No. 14 Bevill State 7-2 in Conference Showdown

JASPER, Ala. – In a battle between two ranked programs, the No. 8 Wallace State Lions proved why they sit atop the NJCAA standings. The Lions defeated No. 14 Bevill State 7-2 on Saturday, March 21, in Jasper, winning five of six contested singles courts to pull away in a hard-fought ACCC conference road match and keep their unbeaten season intact.

Wallace State claimed two of three doubles courts to take the early edge. Alexander Grube and Angel Gautier opened with an 8-3 victory over Gardiner and Barclift on Court 1. Francois Van Wyk and Tom Kopf followed with a tiebreaker win over Delalande and Obregon on Court 2, edging through 9-7. Bevill State earned its first point of the match on Court 3, as Knauer and Henderson defeated William Johnson and Matias Vargas, 8-6. Wallace State carried a 2-1 advantage into singles and built on it decisively.

Singles play showcased Wallace State's depth and resilience. Alexander Grube set the tone at Court 1 with a gutsy three-set comeback, dropping the opening set before regrouping to defeat Delalande 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Angel Gautier was efficient at Court 2, taking down Knauer 6-1, 6-4. Francois Van Wyk made it three in a row for the Lions at Court 3, shutting out Gray 6-1, 6-1. Tom Kopf delivered a dominant 6-0, 6-0 performance over Obregon at Court 5, while William Johnson closed out the victory at Court 6 with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Henson. Bevill State's lone singles point came at Court 4, where Gardiner defeated Luka Uzelac in three sets.

Winning a ranked road match 7-2 against a top-15 program is no small feat, and the Lions' ability to respond after dropping the doubles point at Court 3 and losing Court 4 singles speaks to the mental fortitude of this group. With victories in Jasper on both Saturday matches, Wallace State capped a dominant week on the road.

MATCH RESULTS
No. 8 Wallace State 7, No. 14 Bevill State 2
Doubles
1. Alexander Grube / Angel Gautier (WSCC) def. Gardiner / Barclift (BSC), 8-3
2. Francois Van Wyk / Tom Kopf (WSCC) def. Delalande / Obregon (BSC), 9-7 (TB)
3. Knauer / Henderson (BSC) def. William Johnson / Matias Vargas (WSCC), 8-6

Singles
1. Alexander Grube (WSCC) def. Delalande (BSC), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Angel Gautier (WSCC) def. Knauer (BSC), 6-1, 6-4
3. Francois Van Wyk (WSCC) def. Gray (BSC), 6-1, 6-1
4. Gardiner (BSC) def. Luka Uzelac (WSCC), three sets
5. Tom Kopf (WSCC) def. Obregon (BSC), 6-0, 6-0
6. William Johnson (WSCC) def. Henson (BSC), 6-1, 6-4