CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Stetson University Men's Tennis fell in a tightly contested 4-3 match to Kennesaw State on Sunday at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center. The Hatters claimed the doubles point and picked up singles victories on courts one and two, but the Owls won four of the final five completed singles matches to edge out the win.
Stetson earned the opening point of the day in doubles with a strong finish across the lineup. Christian Kuehne and Marc Saura got the Hatters on the board first with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles over Nathan Walters and Leon Peranovic. Kennesaw State answered at the top spot, as Dominic Ducariu and Ben Hudson defeated Alexandre Verlaguet and Kartik Mandla, 6-4.
The doubles point came down to a tiebreaker on court three, where Xavier Sarda Marti and James Lorenzetti battled back to secure a 7-6(5) victory over Anthony Weingarten and Xavi Ferrer to give Stetson the early 1-0 lead.
In singles play, Kennesaw State evened the match with a win at No. 3 singles, where Peranovic topped Sarda Marti, 6-4, 6-3. Verlaguet quickly answered at No. 1 singles, defeating Weingarten 6-3, 6-4 to restore Stetson's advantage.
Saura dropped a three-set decision at No. 5 singles after taking the opening set, as Walters rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win to level the match again. Mandla then fought through three sets at No. 6 singles, but Ferrer edged out the final set 6-4 after Mandla rebounded to win the second, 6-3.
Lorenzetti also pushed his match to three sets at No. 4 singles, taking the first 7-5 before Ducariu responded with wins in the second and third to swing the momentum toward the Owls.
With the match on the line, Kuehne delivered a dramatic comeback at No. 2 singles. After dropping the first set in a tiebreak, Kuehne rallied to win the second set and then secured the match in a 10-5 super tiebreak to keep the Hatters alive.
"Tough loss today," said Head Coach John Shade. "I was proud of the energy we came out with in doubles. Great comeback win at three doubles to clinch the doubles point. It was good to see Alex and Christian get the victory at 1&2. We fought until the end in singles but lost some tough three set matches we had chances to win."
Doubles
Singles
Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) def. Matias Weingarten (KSU) 6-3, 6-4
Christian Kuehne (STET) def. Thomas Hudson (KSU) 6-7(5), 6-5, 10-5
Mihailo Peranovic (KSU) def. Xavier Sarda Marti (STET) 6-4, 6-3
Raul Ducarin (KSU) def. James Lorenzetti (STET) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
Carlos Walters (KSU) def. Marc Saura (STET) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Michael Ferrer (KSU) def. Kartik Mandla (STET) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
Up Next
The Hatters return home on Thursday, Feb. 12 to host Air Force at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center. First serve is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
