Altamonte Springs, Fla. - Despite a 5-1 final result, the Southwest Baptist University men's tennis team gave all #1 West Florida could handle in the NCAA Final Four on Friday afternoon.

The Bearcats hung tight with the top ranked West Florida, trailing 2-1 after doubles play. The Bearcats used a strong performance at no. 3 doubles with Raul Cabalero/Torben Semrau earning an 8-5 victory to put the Bearcats on the board. Entering singles play West Florida got points from no. 3, no. 5, and no. 6 singles to seal the 5-1 victory. However, the Bearcats were close to securing points in no. 1 and no. 4 singles. Sherif Abohabaga was leading 6-3, 6-5 against the #4 ranked player in the NCAA, while Cabalero was leading 6-4, 4-1 at the no. 4 position. Ferenc Agoston claimed the first set 6-3 and fell 4-6 in the second set at no. 2 singles against the #15 ranked player in the NCAA when the match was called.

SBU finishes the 2017 season 14-5 overall, advancing to the NCAA Final Four for only the second time in program history.

#1 West Florida 5, #23 Southwest Baptist 1

Singles
1. #7 Sherif Abohabaga (SBU) vs. #4 Alex Peyrot (UWF) 6-3, 6-5 unfinished
2. Ferenc Agoston (SBU) vs. #15 Gabriel Dias (UWF) 6-3, 4-6 unfinished
3. Serdar Bojadjiev (UWF) def. Chris Blodig (SBU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Raul Cabalero (SBU) vs. Pedro Dumont (UWF) 6-4, 4-1 unfinished
5. Alfonso Castellano (UWF) def. Torben Semrau (SBU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Sebastian (UWF) def. Marcel Castillo (SBU) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
1. #1 Peyrot/Dumont (UWF) def. #14 Abohabaga/Blodig (SBU) 8-4
2. #23 Dias/Pedro Roese (UWF) def. Agoston/Agoston (SBU) 8-5
3. Cabalero/Semrau (SBU) def. Warren Kuhn/Pablo Tellez (UWF) 8-4