VALDOSTA, Ga. – For the second time this season, the Valdosta State men's tennis team knocked off a top-ranked team.  This time, it was Saint Leo as the No. 6 Blazers posted a thrilling 4-0 victory Friday afternoon.  Junior Pedro Cordeiro, who had been cramping in the second set, fought through it and won 6-2, 7-5 at No. 6 singles to clinch the match.  
 
VSU, who improved to 8-0 on the year with the victory over Saint Leo (15-1), defeated Barry University, who was then-ranked No. 1 on Mar. 5, 4-3, also in Valdosta.  The Saint Leo victory Friday marked the fourth win for the Blazers against a ranked team this season.  
 
In a highly anticipated match, and in front of a great crowd at the VSU Tennis Complex, the Blazers had upset on their mind from the get go.  Junior duo of Christian Wedel and Pedro Cordeiro won at No. 3, 6-2, over Martin Soukal and Henrique Bertoli to get things started.  
 
At the top spot, No. 42 duo of juniors Luca Mack and Rodrigo Carvalho battled back from a 4-2 deficit for a 7-5 victory over No. 44 duo of Tao Castillo Bernal and Ivan Marrero to clinch the point.  At No. 2 doubles, sophomore Lamar Bartley and senior Christian Felline were tied 5-5 with Nicolas Bacella and Luis Iriarte when the point was clinched.
 
Heading into singles play, Wedel upset No. 33 Castillo Bernal in straight-sets at No. 4, 6-1, 6-4, for a 2-0 Blazer lead and then Bartley won at No. 3 6-2, 6-4, over Bacella for a 3-0 lead, prior to Cordeiro's heroics at No. 6. 
 
The Blazers return to the road this week as they travel to Shorter for a Tuesday match at 2 p.m. and then a 1 p.m. match Wednesday at Lee.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for more information on Blazer men's tennis and all of VSU's 12 NCAA Division II Intercollegiate Athletic programs.