MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Rhodes men's tennis team dropped a tough loss today at the hands of their rival, University of the South Tigers, falling 9-0 at Old Fort Park in the Semis of the Southern Athletic Association Conference Tournament. 
 
The loss drops Rhodes College to 10-8 on the year and 5-4 in Conference Play for the 2013-14 season.
 
The Lynx fought hard in doubles competition.  Colin Perry and Eliot Blatt fought to overcome a one break of serve deficit at first doubles but were not able to regain momentum at the end of the match.  Albert Vacheron and Daniel Olivier found themselves in a deep hole down two breaks of serve early to the Tigers, fought valiantly, but the deficit was too step from which to recover.
 
Singles play proved to be just as difficult for the Lynx.  Eliot Blatt had a difficult time with Schober on court one falling 6-1, 6-0, while Colin Perry dropped a 6-1, 6-1 decision to Jackson for the fifth and deciding point.  Albert Vacheron had a great match with Sewanee's Winkler on court three, proving that the best is yet to come in his future for the Lynx.
 
An ailing Graham Sowden dropped a much closer 6-4, 6-1 decision to a familiar foe in Cooper, while Daniel Olivier, who did not play in the team's first meeting with Sewanee, faced Sean Laughlin and lost 6-2, 6-2.
 
The Lynx will be back in action next season, with four new recruits joining the squad and hoping to provide some depth to the roster and new enthusiasm for the upcoming season.
 
Rhodes College 0, University of the South 9
April 26, 2014
Old Fort Park – SAA Conference Semis
Murfreesboro, TN
 
Singles Competition
 
Avery Schober (UoS) def. Eliot Blatt (RC) 6-1, 6-0
Rand Jackson (UoS) def. Colin Perry (RC) 6-1, 6-1
Connor Winkler (UoS) def. Albert Vacheron (RC) 6-3, 6-4
Eric Roddy (UoS) def. Greyson Brilliant (RC) 6-3, 6-1
Alex Cooper (UoS) def. Graham Sowden (RC) 6-4, 6-1
Sean Laughlin (UoS) def. Daniel Olivier (RC) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles Competition
 
Roddy/Cooper (UoS) def. Blatt/Perry (RC) 8-6
Schober/Winkler (UoS) def. Brilliant/Sowden 8-2
Jackson/Laughlin (UoS) def. Vacheron/Olivier 8-4
 
Match Notes
 
Rhodes College 10-8 (5-4); #16 Regional Ranking
University of the South 13-6 (9-0); #10 Regional Ranking
Order of Finish: Doubles (2, 3, 1) Singles (1, 2, 5, 4, 6, 3)