CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Shepherd University dropped a 5-1 decision to  Bluefield State on Saturday night in the semifinal round of the WVIAC Men's Tennis Tournament in Charleston. Top-seeded Bluefield State advances to the finals to face West Virginia Wesleyan.

The Big Blues jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the doubles matches. BSC won at No. 2 and No. 3, but the Rams posted a stellar win at the No. 1 spot.

At No. 2, Shikhar Kapur and Piotr Kruk notched an 8-3 win over Steve Kolumban and Michael Lesko. Third-seeded Conner Pickering and Gautam Sreeram downed Steve Lesko and Al Starlings by an 8-4 score. SU’s Chris Pratt and Taylor Boyle registered an 8-6 come-from-behind win over the Big Blues’ Vlad Catlan and Niklas Sparr 8-6.

In singles action, third-seeded Kruk accounted for a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Kolumban while Sparr downed Steven Lesko 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 5 slot. The winning point came from the No. 2 seed, Catlan. He amassed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Michael Lesko.

Doubles
1. Chris Pratt/Taylor Boyle (SU) def. Vlad Catlan/Niklas Sparr (BSC) 8-6
2. Shikhar Kapur/Piotr Kruk (BSC) def. Steve Kolumban/Michael Lesko (SU) 8-3
3. Conner Pickering/Gautam Sreeram (BSC) def. Al Starlings/Steven Lesko (SU) 8-4

Singles
1. DNF
2. Catlan def. M. Lesko
3. Kruk def. Kolumban 6-1, 6-1
4. DNF
5. Sparr def. S. Lesko 6-2, 6-1
6. DNF