MARS HILLS, N.C. - Despite loosing by a final of 9-0 to the Mars Hill University Lions (2-14, 1-8 SAC), the Brevard College Men's Tennis team (4-13, 0-7 SAC) team put up a fight, Saturday on the road in Mars Hill, N.C., while playing a man down.

After having to forfeit No. 3 doubles by default, the Tornados nearly tied the match 1-1 at No. 2 doubles as freshman Will Christiansen (Crawford, Mass.) and senior Christoph Plasa (Wegberg, Germany) lost a highly contested 8-6 match to Carlos Suares Riesco and Fernando Neto. However, the Lions would take a 3-0 lead heading into the deciding singles play, as Brevard's top tandem of sophomore Tom Mittring (Bavaria, Germany) and JR Davis (Hixon, Tenn.) lost 8-4.

The Bears took a 4-0 lead after the Tornados were forced to forfeit No. 6 singles by default, before taking the match point at No. 5 singles as junior Dan Taylor (Brevard, N.C.) who competed in just his first match of the 2017 season, fell to Blake Covington 6-0, 6-2.

Plasa would fall 6-3, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, while Christiansen lost 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3. Brevard's best opportunities to take points on the afternoon came at No. 1 and No. 2 singles as Mittring battle 6-4, 6-4 at No. 1, while Davis played the Tornados best match of the afternoon 6-4, 6-5 at No. 2.

The Tornados are set to return to action Monday, Mar. 27 as they host the Anderson University Trojans at 12 noon from the Brevard Tennis Complex.