Kansas City, MO – The University of the Cumberlands men's tennis team jump to No. 5 with 252 points in the latest NAIA Men's Tennis Top 25 Poll after posting a 4-1 record since the last rankings release. 

The Patriots opened the stretch with a strong 4-3 victory over No. 20 Marian at the UC Tennis Complex. After dropping the doubles point, Cumberlands rallied in singles play with four victories to secure the comeback win. Kesia Roi quickly evened the match with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles, before Jacopo Cianfarini delivered a key three-set comeback at the top spot, defeating his opponent 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Gabriele Solda added another point with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles, and Thibaud Vivier clinched the match with a 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles. 

Cumberlands followed that performance with a dominant 7-0 sweep of Freed-Hardeman. The Patriots secured the doubles point with wins across all three courts before sweeping singles play. Jacopo Cianfarini battled through a three-set match at No. 1 singles, while Darius Kuster, Gabriele Solda, Thibaud Vivier, Kesia Roi, and Mohammed Abuzed Saber all earned victories to complete the sweep. 

The Patriots later hosted Jacksonville State, falling 4-0 after the Gamecocks secured the doubles point and three singles victories to clinch the match. 

Cumberlands quickly bounced back with a 4-1 win over No. 16 Huntington. The Patriots swept doubles play to take an early lead before adding three singles victories. Cianfarini rallied for a 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles, while Roi secured a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory at No. 5. Mohammed Abuzed Saber clinched the team win with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 6 singles. 

The Patriots closed the stretch with another ranked victory, defeating No. 19 Cumberland 5-2. Cumberlands once again swept doubles play, highlighted by a 6-0 win from Darius Kuster and Gabriele Solda at No. 1 doubles. In singles play, Kuster earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles, Roi added a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 5, and Abuzed Saber picked up a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 6. Thibaud Vivier secured the decisive point at No. 4 singles to seal the Patriots' fifth point of the match. 

The Patriots are back on the court on Wednesday, March 11, with a home match against #17 Grace College. The first serve is slated for 1:00 PM.   

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