HUNTINGTON, W.Va.— Charleston men's tennis couldn't hold onto an early lead in Sunday's MEC Men's Tennis Tournament Championship, falling to West Virginia Wesleyan College 5-3 at the Brian David Fox Tennis Center on the campus of Marshall University.
 
The Golden Eagles grabbed an early advantage in doubles play. Ben Lakeman and Alek Gracin picked up an 8-3 win in No. 2 doubles while Alec Foote and Dominick Centofanti edged Nathan Sabate and Alexander Lyudinovskiy 8-6 in No. 1 doubles action.  Ferran Berga and Jacobo Rendon teamed up for an 8-3 win in the No. 3 spot, but Charleston held a 2-1 lead at the end of doubles play.  
 
The Bobcats battled back in singles competition. Berga downed Guilhelme Albertinazzi 6-0, 6-1 in No. 6 singles and Lyudinovskiy topped Cenotfanti  7-5, 6-2 in the No. 4 spot.  Ramon Rodriguez outlasted Gracin 6-4, 6-1; giving West Virginia Wesleyan a 4-2 edge.  Lakeman toppled Lukas Laipold 6-3, 6-4 in No. 2 singles to put the Golden Eagles within striking distance, but a 6-3, 6-4 win by Rendon in No. 5 singles secured the victory for West Virginia Wesleyan. 
 
The Bobcats secured an automatic berth into this year's NCAA Tournament with the win.
 
#2 West Virginia Wesleyan 5, #4 Charleston, 3 
Doubles
#1 Foote/Centofanti (UC) def. Sabate/Lyudinovskiy (WVWC), 8-6
#2 Lakeman/Gracin (UC) def. Rodriguez/Laipold (WVWC), 8-3
#3 Berga/Rendon (WVWC) def. Humphrey/Prince (UC), 8-3

Singles
#2 Ben Lakeman (UC) def. Lukas Laipold (WVWC), 6-3, 6-4
#3 Ramon Rodriguez (WVWC) def. Alek Gracin (UC), 6-4, 6-1
#4 Alex Lyudinovskiy (WVWC) def. Dominick Centofanti (UC), 7-5, 6-2
#5 Jacobo Rendon (WVWC) def. Jamie Gibson (UC), 6-3, 6-4
#6 Ferran Berga (WVWC) def. Guilhelme Albertinazzi (UC), 6-0, 6-1