CASSELBERRY, Fla. – The eighth-ranked UIndy men's tennis opened the 2024 NCAA DII Championships with some noise on Tuesday morning, rallying back to win three final-set singles matches and outlast 12th-seeded Southern Arkansas, 4-1.
 
The remaining two matches that were halted also saw a UIndy player winning in their respective third set.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Greyhounds had to rally after the morning's doubles session, with the No. 2-ranked tandem in the nation – Matthieu Derache and Tom Zeuch – not enough to secure the early point.
 
Zeuch, also ranked first in singles, handled his counterpart in straight sets (6-3, 6-1) before the thrill ride began on every other court.
 
Freshman Manuel Lanteri was the sole Hound to win his first frame at No. 5 singles, with teammates Erwan Momo Andre, Louis Picaud, David Simeonov, and Derache all needing to bounce back in the second set. They all did, of course, forcing each of the final five singles contests to go to a deciding third.
 
Picaud, ranked 54th in DII, overcame a 6-3 loss in the opening set to handle business and win (3-6, 6-3, 6-4). Lanteri finished soon after, earning a 7-5 victory in third set over his SAU opponent.
 
Derache and Momo Andre were each in the driver's seat during their respective third sets, but it was Simeonov at No. 4 singles that put the nail in the coffin with a comeback victory (1-6, 6-3, 6-4). The rookie was granted extra rest following his first-set defeat due to his opponent needing assistance from an athletic trainer, in which he took advantage.
 
Tuesday's meeting marked the first between the programs, as Southern Arkansas began competing in 2018-19.
 
The Hounds improve to 19-15 all-time in NCAA tournament action and have won five of their last six first round matches at the DII Championships.
 
UP NEXT
UIndy will now battle No. 4 seed Columbus State tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. at Sanlando Park. The Cougars ended the Greyhounds season a year ago right here in greater Orlando.