Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – Down a set and 4-0 in the second-set tiebreaker, Middle Tennessee’s Shaun Waters rallied to defeat Alexandre Bernard (Soisy Sur Seine, France) at No. 2 singles to give the fourth-seeded Blue Raiders the 2011 Sun Belt Men’s Tennis Championship Saturday afternoon at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.

MTSU (13-12) wins the title for the second time in its history and also the second time in three years. USA (9-9), the No. 3 seed, was looking for its league-record 17th crown.

After losing the doubles point and falling behind 3-0, Blue Raiders won the top four singles flights to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

“Two months ago, looking at the way we started the season with so many injuries, we never thought we’d be in this position,” said USA head coach Nick Brochu. “So we still have to be very proud of ourselves. I told the guys to hold their heads high because it was a big achievement.”

In a match that lasted over three hours, Waters eventually overtook Bernard 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. All other singles matches had finished before the second-set tiebreaker.

Bernard rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the first set to pull even at 3-3, and after drawing level at 2-2 in the tiebreaker, won five of the next six points to take the opening frame.

Waters went up a break in the second set, but Bernard held serve at 3-5 and broke Waters to eventually lead 6-5. But Waters held to go to another tiebreaker.

Bernard grabbed a quick 4-0 lead but allowed Waters the next three points. Bernard won the next point for 5-3, but Waters closed with four consecutive points to force a third set.

“It’s extremely disappointing when you’re that close—he was three points away from winning the championship,” said Brochu. ‘(Bernard’s) legs started giving up a little bit and his arms were tired. (Waters) played for maybe 45 minutes yesterday in singles where Alex was out here for 2 ½ hours. That could have played a role a little bit.”

In the third frame, Waters broke Bernard twice to jump ahead 5-0 and held on 6-2.

“Alex fought hard and made a comeback towards the end but couldn’t come all the way back,” Brochu said. “I’m very proud of him. But when you’re that close at home and you can almost touch it, it really hurts to not be able to close it out and get it.

“You have to give Waters credit, he came up with the big shots when it was time and he didn’t break down,” Brochu added. “You have to shake his hand. The kid stepped up and earned it today.”

The Jaguars got the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3, and junior Dauw Kruger (Pretoria, South Africa) followed that up with a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory at No. 6. Senior Lucas Viel (Boussy-Saint-Antoine, France) put South Alabama on top 3-0 shortly after with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph at No. 5.

“We were expecting that,” said Brochu. “We knew we had a shot in doubles and we knew that at five and six we’d close it out quick, which we did. Those guys stepped up big to put us on the board early.”

Matthew Langley started the MTSU comeback in straight sets at No. 3 and Ben Davis defeated USA junior Romain Bocaert 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) at No. 1. Dimitri Pippos drew the Blue Raiders level by surviving Hanno Bartsch 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

“The MTSU guys really fought hard today,” Brochu said. “We thought by getting on the board early and having the home crowd would help us a lot. But MTSU was tough. A lot of people didn’t see them coming. But we knew both teams were capable of playing good tennis.”

South Alabama returns six letterwinners for 2012, including five of its top six players.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—