Mobile, AL – The 12^th-seed University of the Cumberlands couldn't overcome a slow start as the fell to the 20^th-seed Northwestern Ohio 7-2 in the opening round of the NAIA National Championships Tuesday afternoon.  With the win the Racers advance to next round to face fourth-seed Point while the Patriots conclude the season with a 12-7 overall record.

UNOH jumped out to a quick lead with an 8-5 win at #2 doubles and an 8-4 win at #3 doubles to take a 2-0 lead.  At #1 doubles 20^th-ranked Martin Barbier and Eric Banoub battled Artue Culicovschi and Marcos Slazar, who are ranked 10^th in NAIA.  The match went back-and-forth before forcing a tiebreaker, which Culicovschi and Salazar won 7-4 to take a 3-0 lead.

The Racers earned wins at #6 and #3 singles to clinch the match and take a 5-0 lead.  Cumberlands got on the board at #4 singles as Jan Dietrich posted a 6-3, 1-6, 10-4 win over Alex de Vilar to make it 5-1.  Banoub followed with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Lars Kaplusch at #5 singles cutting the deficit to 5-2.  However that was the closest UC came as UNOH posted three set wins at both #1 and #2 singles for the 7-2 final.

Barbier, the Mid-South Conference player of the year, finishes the season with a 13-3 record, while Banoub improved to 9-6 on the year.  Anthony Kwok (9-3) and Luis Montull (10-6) also posted winning records on the season.

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