LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The Covenant men's tennis team nearly rallied from a 3-0 deficit after doubles play, but visiting Birmingham Southern hung on for a 5-4 win over the Scots on Friday afternoon at the Covenant Tennis Complex.

The loss drops the Scots to 1-1 on the year, while Birmingham Southern improves to 1-1.

The visiting Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the match after completing a sweep in doubles play. The No. 1 duo of Matthew Harvie and Chris Cox gave Birmingham Southern's Anthony Pellegrini and Jacob Weinacker a challenge at the top spot before falling 8-6.

In singles play, though, Covenant cut the deficit to 4-3 before the Panthers sealed the match with Charlie Rowe's win at No. 5 over Paxton Haggerty, 6-2, 6-0. Harvie took down Weinacker in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5) a the top spot and Cox followed with a three-set victory of his own over Pellegrini 6-7 (4), 6-3, 1-0 (10-3) at No. 2.

Logan Hull was the one that got the Scots within a point of Birmingham Southern with his 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 over Jamie Bekaert. Covenant's fourth point of the day came when Ben Tonkel defeated Alex Wisener 7-5, 7-6 (4) at the No. 6 flight.

UP NEXT

Covenant will host Belhaven (10 a.m.) and Hanover (4 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Covenant Tennis Complex.

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