ROME, Ga. – Valdosta State senior men's tennis standout Takeshi Taco won 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 over Ouachita Baptist's (Ark.) Phil Exner in the finals of the 2024 ITA Cup Sunday morning.  
 
Taco, who was seeded No. 1 in the tournament after winning the ITA South Regional, roared back as he was down 2-4 in the first set tiebreaker, winning five of the next six points to win the first set.  In the second set, Taco got a critical deuce point for a 4-1 lead as he then went on for the 6-1 victory.  Exner reached the finals defeating Blazer senior Boruch Skierkier in three sets on Saturday in one semifinal match, while Taco downed Cas de Ruiter of Harding (Ark.) 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 in the other.
 
This marks the first time a Blazer has competed in the finals of the ITA Cup for singles since 2022 when current Blazer graduate assistant Luca Mack lost in the finals to Santiago Perez of Columbus State in three sets.  
 
Taco and the Blazers now prepare for the GSC Fall Championships, Oct. 18-19, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.