ORLANDO, Fla. - Despite winning the doubles point in both matches, the IUPUI men's tennis team fell just shy in a pair of thrillers in Orlando on Monday (Mar. 14). The Jaguars dropped a morning contest to St. Joseph's by a 4-3 score before falling to Southern Miss in the evening by a similar 4-3 outcome. 

In the morning match, IUPUI (4-12) collected the doubles point in dramatic fashion, earning a 7-5 win at the No. 3 spot from Sean Bailey and Kamil Kozerski and a 7-6 (7-5) thriller from Alex Jochim and Emil Jankowski at the top spot. In singles play, St. Joseph's (5-2) won at the top three spots while IUPUI got wins from Kozerski at No. 4 in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. 

Both of the bottom spots went to three sets as Blessing Benibo won at No. 5 by a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 score and freshman Nate Day fell at No. 6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Against Southern Miss (3-6), IUPUI replicated the doubles effort, capturing the initial point via victories from Jochim and Jankowski at the top spot (6-4) and Kozerski and Nick Moody at No. 3 (7-5). 

In singles play, Kozerski stayed hot with a 6-4, 6-2 victory at No. 2 singles, marking his third straight singles win and team-high 11th win of the season. Canaan Sellers also took advantage of a spot in the lineup with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 6 singles for his first singles triumph of the spring. Benibo split sets at No. 4 singles before ultimately falling to Alan Sanson, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. 

IUPUI will return home to prepare for Horizon League play, beginning with a Mar. 19 contest at Northern Kentucky to open league play.