[Men's Tennis] Double the Fun! Patriots Capture ITA Southeast Region Singles and Doubles Titles

Story by: University of the Cumberlands Athletics

Murfreesboro, TN – Coming off a year were they leaped to 13th in the NAIA Poll, the Patriots men's tennis team opened their 2020-2021 season in impressive fashion with Martin Barbier capturing the ITA Regional singles title, while the top-seed tandem of Martin Barbier and Eric Banoub won the ITA Regional doubles title Saturday afternoon.  It marks just the second time in program history and the first since 1999 that UC achieved that feat.

Entering as the top-seed Barbier and Banoub posted a pair of 8-4 wins in their first two matches to advance to the semifinals.  In the semifinals the tandem, who finished the year ranked 17th in the ITA, defeated Little and Nanao of Montreat 8-3 to advance to the championship match. In the finals, the dynamic duo upended second-seed Nagoudi and Brahahm of Montreat 8-5 to claim the title.  Barbier and Banoub joins Ricky Heath and Yew Ming Si as the only Patriots doubles team to win become ITA regional champions.