NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Joao Ceolin rallied from a set down to provide the clinching point and lead UTSA to a 4-3 win over Belmont on Saturday evening.
The Roadrunners (1-2) overcame a sluggish start to earn its first win of the spring season.
UTSA dropped the doubles point and two of the top three singles matchups to fall behind 3-1.
Javier Gonzalez captured a straight-sets win at No. 4 singles to pull the Roadrunners within a point. Igor Cantanhede also tallied a straight-sets victory at the sixth spot to tie the match.
Ceolin, who lost the first frame to David Faulkner at the sixth position 6-2, rallied to win sets two and three by scores of 7-5 and 7-6, respectively, to clinch the contest.
HEAD COACH RODRIGO DA SILVA'S COMMENTS ON THE WIN
"This was a match that we needed. We started really bad in doubles and lost at the top two spots. We started singles with low energy as well. The guys kept fighting and started digging back. It's a win that we needed even though we didn't play our best tennis. We showed that we can fight the whole time. I'm proud of the way they fought tonight and hopefully we can use this momentum going into tomorrow's match with Middle Tennessee.
UTSA rallies to upend Belmont for first win of spring season. #BirdsUp?? pic.twitter.com/pEfNpwbtjz
— UTSA Men's Tennis (@UTSAMT) January 28, 2018
UP NEXT
The Roadrunners will continue their road trip on Sunday with a match at Middle Tennessee. The contest is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. at the Adams Tennis Complex in Murfreesboro.FINAL RESULTS
UTSA 4, Belmont 3
Doubles
1. Inno/Icic (Belmont) def. Bugiga/Reckow (UTSA) 6-3
2. Goldman/Khan (Belmont) def. Breitbach/Cantanhede (UTSA) 6-3
3. Gonzalez/Ceolin (UTSA) vs. Sterkens/Faulkner (Belmont) unfinished
Singles
1. Hendrik Inno (Belmont) def. Gabriel Bugiga (UTSA) 6-4, 7-5
2. Marko Icic (Belmont) def. Juri Reckow (UTSA) 6-4, 7-5
3. Kai Breitbach (UTSA) def. Vincent Sterkens (Belmont) 7-5, 6-1
4. Javier Gonzalez (UTSA) def. Zak Khan (Belmont) 7-6, 6-4
5. Joao Ceolin (UTSA) def. Jake Briggs (Belmont) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6
6. Igor Cantanhede (UTSA) def. David Faulkner (Belmont) 6-2, 6-3
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