CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Citadel faltered against top-seeded ETSU in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Conference Tennis Championships, dropping a 4-0 decision to the Buccaneers on Thursday afternoon at the Champions Club.

Results

ETSU claimed the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Ted Bagwell and Brady Gober fell 6-2 at the top spot, while Tucker Hendrix and Noah Van Dyke dropped a 6-4 decision at No. 2. The No. 3 doubles match featuring Reece Beckendorf and Anthony Osipov remained unfinished at 4-3.

In singles play, the Bucs secured victories at fourth, fifth and sixth positions to clinch the match. Nick Stroumpis fell 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4, Beckendorf dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision at No. 5 and Graham Hardin fell 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6. Matches at the top three singles positions were left unfinished.

"With the match played in a clinch-clinch format, the 4-0 score does not show how tight and hard-fought it really was," head coach Chuck Kriese said. "We were disappointed not to close out two of the three doubles matches after having strong leads, because that would have given us the doubles point. The momentum swung to ETSU there, but at Nos. 2 and 3 singles we won the second set and started to shift some momentum back in our favor, just not in time to keep them from closing out the match at other positions.

"You have to give credit to ETSU, because they are the best team in the conference and they have proven that this season. I'm very proud of our team, the class they play with and the way they keep giving everything they have. I'm excited about the year to come with five of our top seven players returning and hopefully two very fine recruits. We have to stay the course and keep doing the work. It always pays off."

Kriese also praised the leadership of the senior class along with the postseason recognitions earned this week by Bagwell and Gober.

"I'm very grateful to the leadership our seniors showed this year," Kriese said. "I'm very proud of Ted Bagwell for winning the conference sportsmanship award and Brady Gober for earning Freshman of the Year honors and making the all-conference team."

To stay up to date with The Citadel tennis program, visit CitadelSports.com and follow the Bulldogs on X and Instagram by searching @CitadelMTen and @citadel_mten.