Springfield, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University men's tennis team ended the 2011 USTA/ITA Division II South Central Regional Championships on a good note, with the doubles team of Domingos Carissimo and Jorge Margiotta claiming a doubles championship. Carissimo/Margiotta are now one of eight doubles teams in the nation to be eligible to compete in the 2011 USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.

Carissimo/Margiotta dominated the doubles competition, defeating all of their competitors on the weekend in two sets. Their final victory came against the doubles team of Hans Hach and Nick Plum of Abilene Christian, with SBU coming away with a 7-6, 6-2 victory.

In the singles competition, the Bearcats had a great showing. Carissimo was able to defeat teammate Kristof Kinal 6-1, 6-1 in the semi-finals, while Margiotta played a tough battle against Hach, but fell just short at 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. In the finals, Carissimo battled hard against Hach, but ultimately came away the singles runner-up with the score of 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

"I am proud of the maturity [Carissimo/Margiotta] have shown this tournament," head coach John Bryant commented. "Having three of the top four singles players in the region is a great accomplishment, and they have worked very hard to achieve what they did this weekend."

On the weekend, the Bearcats hosted 308 matches played over three days. There were 19 women's teams and 17 men's teams competing in the 2011 USTA/ITA Division II South Central Regional Championships.

Carissimo/Margiotta will now travel to Mobile, Alabama for the 2011 USTA/ITA National Small College Championships held at the Copeland-Cox Tennis Center. The national tournament will begin on Thursday, October 13th and will run through Sunday, October 17th.