Men's Tennis | 4/24/2022 3:46:00 PM

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The third-ranked, but top-seeded, Barry Buccaneers men's tennis team took down the second-ranked, but fourth-seeded, Saint Leo with a 4-0 victory in the championship match of the 2022 Sunshine State Conference Tournament at  IMG Academy on Sunday, Apr. 24.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: No. 3 Barry 4, No. 2 Saint Leo 0
Records: Barry 16-5, Saint Leo 19-5
Series: Barry leads 41-2

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

"It is a great feeling winning another title this year after the indoor championship. We had our problems throughout the regular season battling injuries but the players really worked hard in the past few weeks to get ready for this tournament. From the very first match we were really focused and all about winning! I hope we can maintain that mindset for the rest of the post season! The hard work and dedication paid off!!! Congrats to Saint Leo who, has played a great tournament and was a worthy opponent." -- Barry head coach Thomas Hipp

SUMMARY:

Doubles

1. #8 Bruno Faletto/Willem Van Den Akker (SLM) def. #18 Ignasi Forcano/Martin Gutierrez (BU) 6-2
2. #24 Arnau Rodriguez/Alejandro Ibañez Gallego (BU) def. Vincent Thiel/Brad Eidenmuller (SLM) 6-0
3. Alessandro Giuliato/Hugo Cazaban (BU) def. Nicolas Bacella/Luis Iriarte (SLM) 6-4

Singles

1. #7 Alejandro Palacios (BU) vs. #3 Bruno Faletto (SLM) 6-4, 5-2, unfinished
2. #13 Alejandro Ibañez Gallego (BU) def. #60 Nicolas Bacella (SLM) 6-4, 6-1
3. #43 Alessandro Giuliato (BU) def. #33 Vincent Thiel (SLM) 6-3, 6-0
4. #72 Ignasi Forcano (BU) def. Ghali Mensour (SLM) 6-3, 6-4
5. #66 Arnau Rodriguez (BU) vs. Luis Iriarte (SLM) 6-4, 6-5, unfinished
6. Tim Büttner (BU) vs. Brad Eidenmuller (SLM) 5-7, 3-2, unfinished

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Barry's Ibañez Gallego and Rodriguez, the 24th-ranked duo in D-II, won the first doubles match against Thiel and Eidenmuller 6-0 at number two doubles. 
• Forcano and Guitierrez, the Buc's 18th-ranked duo, lost their double match 6-2 versus Faletto and Van Den Akker, the eight-ranked team in D-II at number one.
• Giuliato and Cazaban secured the doubles point, winning against Bacella and Iriarte at number three.
• In singles, the Bucs won three quick first sets in the six flights.
• Giuliato picked up a point quickly for the Bucs, winning over #33 Vincent Thiel  6-3, 6-0 at number three.
• Forcano provided the third point, with 6-3, 6-4 win over Ghali Menosour at number four.
• Ibañez Gallego cliched the match, beating #60 Nicolas Bacella 6-4, 6-1 at number two.
• The remaining singles match went unfinished.

NOTES

• For the Buccaneers, it is their 17th SSC Tournament title, leaving them just one title behind Rollins (18), who have not won since 2004. No other school has won more than five titles.
• It was the second year in a row that the Bucs won against Saint Leo for the conference title. 

ON THE HORIZON

The Bucs earn an automatic bid the NCAA South Regional Tournament. It is their 27th bid to the tournament, the most for any active Division II team. Official pairings, times and locations will be released on May 3.