Springfield, Mo. - The Southwest Baptist University men's tennis team opened up their 2014 season with a 5-4 victory over the 14th ranked NAIA team in the nation, Graceland University.

The Bearcats claimed two of the three doubles matches before splitting the singles matches to claim the 5-4 victory. The doubles teams of Kristof Kinal/Omar El Kheshen and Daniel Cardona/Chris Blodig picked up victories, while El Kheshen, Blodig, and Cardona all claimed singles victories.

SBU will return to action on Thursday, February 13 when they travel to Arkansas-Fort Smith. Play is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. from Fort Smith, Arkansas.

#30 Southwest Baptist 5, #14 (NAIA) Graceland 4

Singles

1. #23 (NAIA) Birkir Gunnarsson (GU) def. #35 Kristof Kinal (SBU) 1-6, 6-3, 13-11
2. Omar El Kheshen (SBU) def. #40 (NAIA) Jose Razo (GU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Chris Blodig (SBU) def. Adolfo Contreras (GU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Daniel Cardona (SBU) def. DJ Parker (GU) 6-3, 6-4
5. Brezile Hamilton (GU) def. Guido Margiotta (SBU) 6-2, 5-7, 10-5
6. Gustavo Yanez (GU) def. Yannick Doering (GU) 6-3, 3-6, 10-7

Doubles

1. Kinal/El Kheshen (SBU) def. Gunnarsson/Razo (GU) 9-8
2. Blodig/Cardona (SBU) def. Felipe Suarez (GU) 8-2
3. Oscar Chang/Parker (GU) def. Margiotta/Alex Belote (SBU) 8-4