Tweet #theGAC  BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist and Ouachita registered semifinal victories on Friday to set up a title match between the Bison and Tigers at the 2017 Great American Conference Men’s Tennis Championships.
 
The Tigers (5-13) knocked out the defending champions, Southeastern Oklahoma State, by a 5-0 mark to return to the finals for the fifth time in six years. They avenged a 6-3 loss in the regular season.
 
In the doubles portion, Andre Stefano and Braydon Montgomery collected the first point by defeating Kelian Bouteiller and Mislav Colak, 8-4, at No. 3 doubles. Lennart Lonnemann and Dan Kaplun handled Petar Popovic and Willy Pardas, 8-2, in the No. 2 match. Luis Chab and Juan Moncada edged Alberto Blesa and Netanel Alcabas, 9-7, at No. 1 to complete the doubles sweep.
 
Lonnemann earned his second win of day as he defeated Blesa at No. 1 in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0. Moncada finished off the contest as he rallied from losing the first set for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win against Bouteiller.
 
Ouachita won the first four GAC Men’s Tennis Championships and improved to 9-1 in GAC Championship matches.

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Appearing in its first GAC Championship contest, Oklahoma Baptist defeated Harding, 5-1, as the top seed moved into the title game
 
The Bison (17-5) sweep of the doubles matches featured a pair of come-from-behind wins. After Player of the Year Kevin Andrsuch and Gianluca Galdi partnered for an 8-4 triumph at No. 1 doubles. At No. 2, Thomas Ackerknecht and Luis Romero recovered from down two breaks to score a 9-7 win. In the No. 3 match, Lucas Castelo Branco and Matias Le Fort climbed out an even deeper hole, 5-0, before registering a 9-8 win.
 
In the singles matches, Andrusch secured Oklahoma Baptist’s fourth point following a 6-1, 6-0 straight-set victory against Alejandro Sendra. Harding’s Carlos Crisostomo netted the lone win for the Bisons after toppling Lucas Castelo Branco despite dropping the opening set, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
 
Oklahoma Baptist clinched the match as Galdi defeated Adria Abella, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, from the No. 4 position.
 
The Bison and Tigers will meet at 10:30 a.m.