CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University men's tennis team fell behind early and could not recover, losing its season-opening match against Lipscomb, 5-2, Saturday.

The Bisons came out strong for the doubles competition, winning the point with a clean sweep of the Governors. Lucas De Brito and Leonardo Locatelli played the closest doubles match, but lost 9-7 to Daniel Hangstefer and Mario Hernandez.

In singles action, the Govs fared well at the top of the lineup, but struggled from No. 3 down. Locatelli defeated Hangstefer in straight sets at No. 1 singles. De Brito, meanwhile, pulled out a first-set, 7-5, win and heated up to win the final set convincingly, 6-1. After that, things got rough for the Govs.

Newcomer Renan Bezerra, at No. 3 singles, battled in the first set, but fell easily in the second. The Governors bottom three won only two games combined, as Lipscomb took the win, 5-2.

Lipscomb 5, Govs 2
Doubles competition
1. HANGSTEFER, Daniel/HERNANDEZ, Mario (LIP) def. DE BRITO, Lucas/LOCATELLI, Leonardo (APSUM) 9-7
2. PIERRON, Chad/MURRELL, James (LIP) def. BEZERRA, Renan/LA PUENTE, Francisco (APSUM) 8-4
3. McCARDLE, Joe/MIZZELL, Andy (LIP) def. SHAW, Bret/BRADY, Dusty (APSUM) 8-2
 
Singles competition
1. LOCATELLI (APSUM) def. HANGSTEFER (LIP) 6-2, 6-2
2. DE BRITO (APSUM) def. McCARDLE (LIP) 7-5, 6-1
3. PIERRON (LIP) def. BEZERRA (APSUM) 7-5, 6-2
4. MURRELL (LIP) def. LA PUENTE (APSUM) 6-0, 6-0
5. HERNANDEZ (LIP) def. SHAW (APSUM) 6-2, 6-0
6. CUMMINGS (LIP) def. BRADY (APSUM) 6-0, 6-0
 

-AP-