Courtesy of Brent Hager - WVIAC Associate Commissioner

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Fourth-seeded Shepherd held off West Liberty 5-3 in a 3.5 hour marathon in the quarterfinals of the WVIAC men’s tennis championship.

The Rams posted two victories in doubles action for a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

In the doubles competition, the Hilltoppers’ Ivan Irazabal and Ayman Barakat garnered an 8-4 win over Chris Pratt and Taylor Boyle. SU responded with wins in the other two doubles matches. Michael Lesko and Steven Kolumban downed Erik Jahreskog and Jesus GImenez 8-5 at No. 2 while Steven Lesko and Al Starlings defeated Tyler McCullough and Logan Jarrett 8-6 at No. 3.

WLU won the top two singles matches. Irazabal notched a 6-4, 6-4 victory at the top spot while Jahreskog won 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 2 position.

The Rams picked up wins at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6. Kolumban won at No. 3 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Kent Thomas won at the No. 6 slot 7-6 (2), 6-1 while Steven Lesko posted a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9) victory at No. 5.

Shepherd will face top-seeded Bluefield State play at the YMCA at 6 p.m. in semfinal action on Saturday.

Doubles
1. Irazabel/Barakat def. Pratt/Boyle 8-4
2. M. Lesko/Kolumban def. Jahreskog/Gimenez 8-4
3. Starlings/S. Lesko def. McCullough/Jarrett 8-6
Singles
1. Irazabal def. Pratt 6-4, 6-4
2. Jahreskog def. M. Lesko 6-3, 6-3
3. Kolumban def. McCullough 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
4. DNF
5. S. Leksko def. Gimenez 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9)
6. Thomas def. Jarrett 7-6 (2) 6-1