CAYCE, S.C., April 18, 2015 - The South Carolina State men’s team advanced to the championship match after a grueling 4-0 win over Florida A&M. 

The Bulldogs secured the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3.  Doubles duo’s Soufiane Mouline and Edgar Diaz defeated Karlyn Small and Carlos Waitman at 8-4 and Stanislav Baco and Jakub Vitek secured the point with an 8-3 finish over Jalen Evans and Joel Ovonlen-Jones. 

No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 won in singles action to earn a trip to the championship finals match. SCSU’s Rodney Carey defeated Karlyn Small 6-3, 6-4 at the first singles.  Mouline prevailed over Courage Okungbowa 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 4 position and No. 5 Baco earned a straight-set win over Joel Ovonlen-Jones 6-1, 6-2 to seal the win. 

South Carolina State extended its record to 15-4 while Florida A&M ended their campaign at 3-11. 

Bethune-Cookman also advanced to the final’s round, setting the same matchup for the men’s championship finale as the women’s finals matchup.

North Carolina Central struck first picking up the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Duos William East and Tamina Kienka defeated Diego Garavito and Greg Almeida to earn an 8-7 (5) victory and Kert Kilumets and Thomas Persico earned the 8-4 win over Kevin Deligny and Gilbert Rotich.

B-CU rallied in singles play securing wins at the No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5. 

At first singles, Alexander Chepick overcame a 3-6 opening set to defeat Kilumets 6-1, 6-2 to close the match.  No. 4 Alaro Barrera defeated Jamal Hoyte in straights sets 6-1, 6-1 and No. 5 Kevin Deligny was victories over Thomas Persico 6-1, 6-0.  Greg Almeida battled against East 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to help clinch the win. 

Bethune-Cookman extends its record to 15-12.  North Carolina Central closes its 2015 campaign at 11-10.

With inclement weather looming, Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State will compete for the championship when weather permits.