VALDOSTA, Ga. – The No. 7 Valdosta State men's tennis team pushed top-ranked Columbus State to the wire in a heartbreaking 4-3 loss Wednesday afternoon.  VSU fell to 8-1 on the year, while CSU improved to 12-0.

The Blazers gave CSU everything it could handle as VSU was the first team to win three team points off the Cougars this season.  In fact, CSU had not given up a team point since winning 6-1 over Auburn Montgomery on Feb. 21, spanning a streak of nine matches.  West Alabama gave CSU its toughest test until VSU as the Cougars won 5-2 on Feb. 20. 
 
Wednesday's match came down the final two singles matches as CSU held a 3-2 lead.  Moments after Pietro Martinetti won over sophomore Cameron Henricy Trigolos at No. 6, VSU freshman Christian Wedel won at No. 3 over Tommaso Schold, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, for the final 4-3 margin. Trigolos and Martinetti also went to three sets as Trigolos dropped the first set 6-1, but roared back in the second set for a 6-2 victory.  In the decisive third set, Trigolos held the early lead, but Martinetti returned the favor and battled back for the victory, 6-3.
 
The Cougars won the doubles point with wins at Nos. 2 and 3, but top VSU duo of senior Yohan Nguyen and junior Florian Simbozel defeated Alvaro Regalado and Javier Cueto Ramos, 6-4.  It marked just the second time this season the opposition has won the doubles point on VSU as Lee won all three doubles matches on Mar. 13.  VSU ended up winning that match 5-2. 
 
VSU sophomore Christian Felline won at No. 5, 6-3, 6-2, to knot the team score at 1-1.  Regalado defeated Nguyen at No. 1, 6-3, 6-2 for a 2-1 CSU lead.  Simbozel evened the match at 2-2 with a straight-set win at No. 2 over Christian Garray, 6-2, 6-4.  Ramos won at No. 4 over freshman Luca Mack, 7-5, 6-2 for the 3-2 lead, before the split of the final two matches.
 
The No. 7 Blazers continue the biggest week of the regular season with No. 4 West Florida visiting for a Gulf South Conference match Friday at 2 p.m. at the VSU Tennis Complex.