MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama Men's Tennis senior Javier Montoya was recognized before the match in his senior day ceremony, and then went on to clinch the match for the Jaguars in a 4-1 victory over Georgia State Sunday afternoon.
 
The match served as the regular-season finale for the Jags and improved their overall record to 9-11 with a 5-2 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. South finished the year with three wins in a row, and was victorious in five of its last-six matches.
 
"Georgia State is a competitive team, and we needed a quick start, which we got," said South Alabama head coach Nick Brochu. "Javi and Braden clinched it. We went into singles and we had to continue the momentum because we didn't want to give Georgia State a chance to come back, and we did. As soon as we got up 3-0, the pressure was all on them. It looked like it was going to be quick but Georgia State made a good comeback. But that allowed our senior to clinch it. It was his last match at home and it couldn't be a better script. Senior captain playing and number one giving us a big win."
 
The Jaguars got off to a fast start by clinching the doubles point. In his return from injury, Romeo Hadzimehmedovic teamed up with Juan Accossatto to win 6-2. Then, Montoya started off a big senior day by working with Braden Hannig to clinch the doubles point on a 6-4 victory.
 
South Alabama stayed hot in the first set of singles play as all six Jaguars won their first set. Hadzimehmedovic and Accossatto were both able to ride that momentum to straight-sets victories as Hadzimehmedovic claimed a 6-1, 7-5 win while Accossatto won on a 6-2, 6-4 decision.
 
Needing just one more singles victory to clinch the win, Montoya, Victor Frumholz and Adam Bouyacoub, all found themselves with opportunities to clinch their respective matches at five games in the third set. Montoya was the first to get it done as he defeated Baran Soyler 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to earn his senior moment and a victory for the Jags.
 
South Alabama will now turn its attention to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Rome, Ga. The Jaguars have clinched the No. 3 seed and will face Coastal Carolina in the first round. The date and time of that match will be announced shortly.
 
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