Box Score ROME, Georgia- The Christian Brothers University men's tennis team claimed their first-ever Gulf South Conference victory Saturday, winning 5-4 at Shorter University in a matchup that saw four singles matches go into a decisive third set, including the final two with the Bucs trailing 4-3.

Seniors Abel Kim (Memphis, Tenn./Homeschooled) and Nick Cotros (Collierville, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS) came close against Shorter in 2017 and 2015, each time losing 5-4.

This time, the Bucs took a 2-1 lead in doubles as No. 2 doubles team Lorenzo Maccarini (Curitiba, Brazil/Colegio Saber) and Javier Saez (Concepcion, Chile/Almondole HS) claimed an 8-5 win, but No. 1 doubles team Atilio Flores (San Salvador, El Salvador/Colegio Internacional) and Andres Calzacorta (Caracas, Venezuela/CMSO) dropped an 8-4 score. Kim and Cotros delivered an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles to give CBU a 2-1 lead.

After Flores lost a 6-1, 6-0 decision at No. 1 singles, the teams split matches at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, with Saez claiming a win by retirement after he led 4-6, 6-4, 4-0 in the third set, but Maccarini lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to keep the match tied at 3. Calzacorta dropped a 7-5, 6-4 heartbreaker at No. 4 singles to put the Bucs behind 4-3 with the seniors, Kim and Cotros, playing at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, needing both to win for the victory. After dropping the first set 6-3, Kim rallied for a pair of 6-3 wins of his own to draw the Bucs even at 4-4, putting all eyes on Cotros at No. 6 singles, who began his third set just as Kim clinched his win at No. 5. Cotros cruised to a 6-1 win in the first set, but he dropped a 6-3 decision in the second set. Cotros rose to the occasion, winning the third set 6-1 to give the Bucs their first conference win since joining the GSC in 1996-97.

"I am so happy for this team," head coach MJ Garnett said. "They want it so badly. What a day for our veterans, seniors Abel Kim and Nick Cotros and junior Javier Saez, to break through and lead these younger men to victory.

CBU 5, Shorter 4
Doubles:
1. Jose Moreno-Manzano/Gregoire Vincent def. #Atilio Flores#/#Andres Calzacorta# 8-4
2. #Lorenzo Maccarini#/#Javier Saez# def. Talha Zubair/Malik Yawar 8-5
3. Abel Kim (Memphis, Tenn./Homeschooled)/#Nick Cotros# def. Mason Barnette/Caleb Diller 8-4

Singles:
1. Jose Moreno-Manzano def. #Atilio Flores# 6-1, 6-0
2. Talha Zubair def. #Lorenzo Maccarini# 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. #Javier Saez# def. Malik Yawar 4-6, 6-4, 4-0, retired
4. Gregoire Vincent def. #Andres Calzacorta# 7-5, 6-4
5. Abel Kim (Memphis, Tenn./Homeschooled) def. Caleb Diller 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
6. #Nick Cotros# def. Mason Barnette 6-1, 3-6, 6-1

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Bucs will look to sweep the weekend road trip on Sunday when they travel to play Lee University (GSC).