The Kennesaw State tennis teams competed at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships in Jacksonville, Florida, over the weekend as the men won their first match against Lipscomb 4-1 before falling to North Florida 4-1 and the women losing out to Stetson 4-0.
Junior Fermin Calvo Barcelo was named as the ASUN Conference Player of the Year before the tournament began and helped the Owls beat Lipscomb in the quarterfinals.
After helping secure the doubles point for the Owls, Calvo Barcelo earned the first singles point, easing past his opponent 6-4, 6-0. ASUN All-Freshman Bryan Triana earned the third overall point, winning both sets at 6-3 each.
Following the Bisons’ only win of the day, Drew Lahey clinched a victory for KSU, fighting through a tight first-set tiebreaker before settling in to win the second set 6-3.
The men played North Florida in the tournament semi-final the next day, falling 4-1 to the Ospreys. As it was all season, Calvo Barcelo led the line for the Owls, earning their only point of the day in a 7-6, 6-1 victory.
Lucas de Torres Curth and Corey Smith won their doubles match, but it was not quite enough as the Ospreys powered past the Owls. It was only the second time in program history that the team reached the ASUN semi-finals.
The women’s team fought hard but were unable to earn a point against Stetson. Star player Alexandra Mercado gave everything in a first-set tiebreaker win but her match was called off in the second set while the other matches ended in Owl losses.
For Calvo Barcelo, he finished the season with 15 consecutive match victories and was a unanimous selection to the ASUN All-Conference team. Meanwhile, de Torres Curth and Corey Smith were selected onto the ASUN All-Academic team.
“I’m extremely happy for Fermin to win such a prestigious award,” said director of tennis Eduardo Rincon. “He has been working on every single area of his game and it’s only fitting he gets recognized.”
Mercado earned a spot on the second team All-ASUN Conference team after having an excellent senior season. She has been a constant force on the team and an important leader over the years.
“Alexandra has done a great job for us the last four years,” Rincon said. “Her play has improved each year. She is a great competitor. The team will miss her and we wish her nothing but the best.”
