MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Valdosta State's postseason run came to an end in Miami Shores, Fla. after the Blazers fell 5-3 to the Saint Leo Lions in a thrilling first round NCAA Division II South Region 1 men's tennis semifinal matchup on Saturday at the Buccaneer Tennis Center.
 
The Blazers took a 2-1 lead into singles play after Edward Nguyen and Niklas Herbring teamed up at No. 1 doubles to defeat Alex Theiler and Bruno Sisti, 8-4, and Gereon Heitmann joined Ramon Weil to blow by Guillame Vanelven and Egor Panyushin with an 8-6 win at No. 2. Francisco Yim Kim and Joachim Schemm fell, 8-3, at the No. 3 position for VSU's lone loss in doubles action.
 
The battle continued with a back-and-forth series of singles matches that began with a convincing 7-5, 6-2 win for the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year, Leo Blay, who rolled to defeat Theiler at No. 1.
 
Saint Leo returned a blow at No. 4, as Vanelven outlasted Heitmann to pick up three-set, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 triumph and cut the Lions' deficit to 3-2. The No. 2 match allowed SLU to knot the day up at 3-3 after Netanel Alcabas defeated Yim Kim 7-6, 6-4 in a tightly contested matchup.
 
The Lions gained momentum at No. 6, after Weil took Nurmio the distance, but fell 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-3. Sisti closed out the match and Valdosta State's season in a narrow comeback effort to defeat Nguyen, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 at No. 5.
 
With the loss Valdosta State finished 15-8, while Saint Leo improved to 16-5 and earned an opportunity to face Barry in Sunday's championship match.