Men’s tennis: Vanguard comes up short

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Vanguard University’s men’s tennis team’s season

came to an end Thursday with a 6-3 loss to Auburn-Montgomery in the

semifinals of the NAIA National Championships at the University of

Kentucky.

The Lions, the No. 5 seed, closed out its season with a 22-4 record and a

Golden State Athletic Conference championship. Joakim Ulfvuebrand and

Martin Makovec won singles sets for Vanguard, and its No. 1 doubles team

of Stefan Johansson and Olli Helminen pulled off an upset 8-6 upset of

Gonzalo Rio and Nicolas Sabatini. But the No. 2 seed Senators (20-3) had

too much team depth.

NAIA MEN’S TENNIS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Auburn-Montgomery 6, Vanguard 3

Singles - Johansson (VU) lost to Rio, 2-6, 3-6; Helminen (VU) lost to

Wakeford, 3-6, 4-4 default; Ulfvuebrand (VU) def. Sedano, 6-1, 0-6, 1-2

default; Skrzeczynski (VU) lost to Ranger, 1-6, 4-6; Makovec (VU) def.

Stroem, 6-7, default.

Doubles - Helminen-Johansson (VU) def. Rio-Sabatini, 8-6;

Skrzeczynski-Stromberg (VU) lost to Ranger-Stroem, 5-8;

Ulfvebrand-Makovec (VU) lost to Kgoismora-Granjeiro, 2-8.