Altamonte Springs, Fla. - Trailing 2-1 heading into singles play, the Southwest Baptist University men's tennis team completed the 5-3 comeback victory over #20 St. Mary's to advance to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. With the win the Bearcats improve to 13-4 on the season.

The Bearcats opened up doubles play trailing 2-0 before the doubles team of Torben Semrau/Raul Cabalero picked up an 8-5 victory at no. 3 doubles to put the Bearcats on the board. Entering singles play, Sherif Abohabaga picked up a 6-1, 6-0 victory at no. 1 singles to tie the match 2-2, before Gyorgy Agoston earned a 6-4, 6-2 victory at no. 6 singles to give SBU a 3-2 lead. St. Mary's responded with a victory at no. 2 singles, tying the match at 3-3. After dropping the first set 6-4, Chris Blodig responded with two straight sets at no. 3 singles to earn a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win pulling SBU within one point from victory. Then, at no. 4 singles Cabalero rebounded after falling in the first set 6-3 to earn a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win to propel the Bearcats to the 5-3 team victory.

Southwest Baptist will now advance to the Elite 8 where they will take on #16 Ferris State at 3:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, May 10 from Altamonte Springs, Florida.

#23 Southwest Baptist 5, #20 St. Mary's 3

Singles
1. #7 Sherif Abohabaga (SBU) def. Michael Macial (STMU) 6-1, 6-0
2. Jeremiah Gonzalez (STMU) def. Ferenc Agoston (SBU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Chris Blodig (SBU) def. Jose Antelo (STMU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
4. Raul Cabalero (SBU) def. Adam Dockery (STMU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Torben Semrau (SBU) vs. Alex Joseph (STMU) 3-6, 6-4, 4-5 unfinished
6. Gyorgy Agoston (SBU) def. Richard Foley (STMU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles
1. Gonzalez/Dockery (STMU) def. #14 Abohabaga/Blodig (SBU) 8-2
2. Maciel/Antelo (STMU) def. Agoston/Agoston (SBU) 8-4
3. Cabalero/Semrau (SBU) def. Joseph/Bojan Popovic (STMU) 8-5