COLUMBUS – The top-seeded Columbus State men's tennis team added to its trophy case with a 4-2 victory over 3rd-ranked Flagler College in the 2026 Peach Belt Conference Championship finale on Sunday afternoon at the John W. Walden Tennis Center.
The tournament title is Columbus State's ninth all-time and first since the 2023 season, as the Cougars are now 19-2 overall. Flagler had won the last two tournament titles before falling in this year's finale.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Flagler opened the day with a win in the top doubles match before Columbus State rallied to earn the points with wins at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.
- The senior tandem of Samer Al Tori and Thomas Cardona won 6-2 at No. 2, followed by a 6-3 win at No. 3 by seniors Daniel Hammond and Benedek Szombathelyi.
- In singles play, the Saints evened the match score at 1-all until Al Tori's 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6 put CSU ahead by a point.
- (70) Hammond followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win of his own in the fifth flight over the nation's 58th-ranked player to extend the Cougar lead, but Flagler captured a point with a three-set victory at No. 3 to extend the match.
- With a conference title on the line, (9) Cardona took down the 39th-ranked singles player in Flagler's Aniss Rafiq with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 come-from-behind triumph on court one.
- Cardona was honored in a post-match ceremony as the tournament's Singles MVP
- Flagler's Ilian Borlee and Simon Malis were named the tournament''s Doubles MVP