By Zachary Bowers

BUENA VISTA, Va. – The Southern Virginia University men's tennis team fended off early doubles gains from Ferrum College to win the non-conference match 5-4 Saturday afternoon.

Starting off the day were the doubles matches. No. 1 doubles pair TJ Snelson and Zac Bowers lost their initial lead and, despite having chances to break back, ultimately fell 6-8. The No. 2 doubles team of Tanner Bassett and Jake Fisher was able to regroup after falling behind early. After crashing the net the better part of the second half of the set, they defeated Ferrum 8-4. No. 3 doubles Tyler Clark and Colin Bigelow also fell with a score of 8-2.

Despite the initial disappointment, the Knights (3-1) were determined to win the match. No. 1 TJ Snelson battled hard and efficiently beat his opponent 6-3 6-4. Grinding it out at the baseline, No. 2 Tanner Basset shut out his opponent 6-0 6-0. Basset has won five of his last seven sets 6-0.

At No. 3, Tyler Clark emerged victorious after some long rallies in the first set and quickly defeated his opponent in the second, winning 7-5 6-1. Both Fisher and Bigelow fell to their opponents in straight sets.

With the score was tied 4-4, No. 4 singles became the deciding match. Zac Bowers easily won the first set 6-1, but Ferrum's (1-2) Caleb Bellamy put the pressure on during the second. After saving several set points, Bowers was able to bring the set to a tiebreaker which he ultimately won 7-5, and the match, 6-1 7-6, to give the Knights the win.

With three straight wins the Knights are gaining momentum, and look to continue at home against Lynchburg College. The match will begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday March 9 at The Fields.