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BELTON, Texas -- The University of Texas at Tyler fell behind after doubles but the Patriots stormed back to win four-straight singles matches and the Patriots claimed their fourth-straight American Southwest Conference Men's Tennis Championship with a 5-2 win over Hardin-Simmons Sunday afternoon at Yvonne Li Tennis Center.

UT Tyler also claims the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championships with the victory.

The Patriots took an early lead when Kevin Singer and Kevin Wright posted an 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles. The Cowboys battled back to tie the match when Andy Cariens and Emmanuel Navejas notched an 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles, and Erich Bein and Sean Strehlow teamed up to give HSU a 2-1 lead with a 9-7 victory at No. 3 doubles. 

Adam Chirhart tied the match again when he posted a 6-2, 7-5 victory on the No. 3 singles court. The Patriots then nailed down wins at No. 5 (Singer) and No. 1 (Joshua Chavez) singles to take a 4-2 lead and Kevin Wright clinched the conference title with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles.

The Patriots improve to 18-6 on the spring with the victory. UT Tyler will find out its pairing and match date when the NCAA Tournament field is announced tomorrow morning.

The loss ends the season for Hardin-Simmons at 11-9 and also closes out the careers of Cowboy seniors Cariens and Navejas.

Singer was named Most Valuable Player of the ASC Tournament. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Henrique Bellini, Adam Chirhart and Kevin Wright. The rest of the All-Tournament Team was comprised of Hardin-Simmons’ Cariens and Navejas, McMurry's Chris Bumann and Mississippi College’s John Downing.

-Courtesy University of Texas at Tyler Sports Information Department

2011 ASC MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

Singles
Joshua Chavez (UTT) def. Erich Bein (HSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Henrique Bellini (UTT) vs. Andy Cariens (HSU) 6-4, (6)6-7, 3-1, unfinished
Adam Chirhart (UTT) def. Emmanuel Navejas (HSU) 6-2, 7-5
Kevin Wright (UTT) def. Cullen Dees (HSU) 7-5, 6-4
Kevin Singer (UTT) def. Sean Strehlow (HSU) 6-4, 6-4
Edward Timponi (UTT) vs. Michael McCullough (HSU) 4-6, 6-1, 2-4, unfinished

Doubles
Bein/Strehlow (HSU) def. Chavez/Andrew Reznik (UTT) 9-7
Cariens/Navejas (HSU) def. Bellini/Chirhart (UTT) 8-5
Singer/Wright (UTT) def. McCullough/Tony Record (HSU) 8-3

All-Tournament Team
Kevin Singer (MVP) - Texas-Tyler
Henrique Bellini - Texas-Tyler
Chris Bumann - McMurry
Andy Cariens - Hardin-Simmons
Adam Chirhart - Texas-Tyler
John Downing - Mississippi College
Emmanuel Navejas - Hardin-Simmons
Kevin Wright - Texas-Tyler