MIAMI SHORES, Ala. – The No. 8-ranked Valdosta State men's tennis team had its season come to an end in a 4-3 loss to No. 11 West Florida in the first round of the NCAA South Regional Monday afternoon at Barry University. 

VSU finished the season with a 14-7 record and battled back from losing the doubles point to a 2-1 lead and then evened the match at 3-3, before falling in the final match in another nail-biter with the Argos.  UWF improved to 21-6 and will meet Barry on Tuesday with the winner advancing to the NCAA National Championship round in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
 
The Argos opened the match winning the doubles point with wins at Nos. 1 and 2.  First, Salvador Bandeira and Lluis Miralles Miro won at No. 2 over Blazer duo of freshman Lamar Bartley and junior Christian Felline, 6-4, while UWF's top duo of No. 18-ranked Facundo Bermejo and Tomas Descarrega upset Blazer top-ranked duo of sophomores Luca Mack and Rodrigo Carvalho, 6-4.
 
Heading into singles, Bartley, ranked No. 70 nationally, made quick work of Descarrega at No. 3, 6-1, 6-3, for a 1-1 score.  Carvalho, ranked No. 48 nationally, upset No. 17 Bermejo, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 2 singles for a 2-1 VSU lead.  UWF's Sebastian Sotelo downed Felline at No. 5 singles, 6-2, 6-1 for a 2-2 score.  The Argos took a 3-2 lead at Pedro Cordeiro won at No. 6 over graduate student Swann Flohr, 6-2, 6-3, but Mack, ranked No. 9 nationally, got a big 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 victory over No. 14 Juan Cabrera for a 3-3 match.  
 
In the only match to go three-sets, UWF edged the Blazers barely as Salvador Bandeira won 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, over sophomore Christian Wedel for the final 4-3 margin.  
 
Despite the loss, the Blazers put together another outstanding season as VSU qualified for the NCAA postseason for the 27^th time in program history and eighth-straight season of earning a berth.  With all but one student-athlete having eligibility remaining for the 2022-23 season, the Blazers are poised for another run at Gulf South Conference, regional and national titles.