WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. - SURPRISE! SURPRISE! For the first time since the program joined NCAA status, the Mercyhurst University men's tennis team won the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship, upsetting second-seeded West Liberty University, 5-4, on Monday afternoon. The Lakers, seeded sixth in the Atlantic Region, will head to Surprise, Arizona for the Round of 16 with a record of 14-6 overall. The Hilltoppers ended their campaign with a 20-2 record, with both losses coming at the hands of Mercyhurst this season.

Mercyhurst defeated West Liberty, 7-2, back on February 22 at the Pennbriar Athletic Club in Erie.

On Sunday, the Lakers won their first NCAA Tournament match, a 5-2 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan, since complete records and results began being compiled at Mercyhurst in 1995. The Lakers were NAIA up until the 1980-81 season and had only reached the NCAA Tournament twice since the 1994-95 campaign.

It all came down to the #2 singles match where junior Travis Beck was pitted against West Liberty's Santiago Gutierrez. In the only match that went three sets, Beck edged Gutierrez in the opening set by a 7-6 final. West Liberty's #2 man tied the match at a set apiece with a 6-4 win before Beck needed a tiebreaker in the third set to win the match and to give the Lakers the Regional Championship and to send them to Arizona. Beck won 7-6 (7-4) in the third set for his 11th singles victory of the season.

West Liberty took two of the three doubles matches to take a 2-1 lead heading into singles competition.

Mercyhurst's only victory in doubles came at #1 when Beck and freshman Nenad Terzic teamed up for an 8-4 victory over Gutierrez and Andrew Ponder.

The Lakers took control in singles, though, winning four of the six contests. Terzic defeated Ponder, 6-1, 6-4, at #1 while sophomores Conor McCooey and Ross Molinaro IV earned straight-set victories at #5 and at #6 respectively.

The first round of the National Tournament in Surprise, Arizona will begin on Wednesday, May 13. Stay tuned to hurstathletics.com for the Lakers' Round of 16 opponent.

Mercyhurst 5, West Liberty 4 (Atlantic Region Championship)
Doubles Competition
1. Travis Beck / Nenad Terzic (MER-M) def. Andrew Ponder / Santiago Gutierrez (WLUM) 8-4
2. Baptiste Perrin / Martin Moncayo (WLUM) def. Andoni Marquez / Conor McCooey (MER-M) 9-8 (7-4)
3. Matt Tully / Pablo Cimorra (WLUM) def. Ross Molinaro IV / Robert Rizea (MER-M) 8-3
Singles Competition
1. Nenad Terzic (MER-M) def. Andrew Ponder (WLUM) 6-1, 6-4
2. Travis Beck (MER-M) def. Santiago Gutierrez (WLUM) 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Baptiste Perrin (WLUM) def. Robert Rizea (MER-M) 6-2, 6-2
4. Martin Moncayo (WLUM) def. Andoni Marquez (MER-M) 7-5, 6-2
5. Conor McCooey (MER-M) def. Matt Tully (WLUM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Ross Molinaro IV (MER-M) def. Pablo Cimorra (WLUM) 6-1, 6-3