JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's tennis team was handed just its first home loss of the season Saturday in a 4-3 defeat by Troy.
 
Despite picking up the doubles point and earning a couple of hard-fought matches, it was Troy that was able to get the one-point winning edge.
 
Seniors Jaryd Reese and Austin McCormick along with senior Mathias Chaim and sophomore Andres Gomez combined to earn one point in doubles victories. In single sets, Chaim and freshman Pablo Caffarena tacked on two points each.
 
"We played a tough match today," head coach Andres Amores said. "It was a neck-and-neck battle with a great rival school. Mathias played very well today, and I liked seeing how hard our guys battled in close sets."
 
Gomez and freshmen Guillermo Agost both pushed their singles matches to three sets, but Troy's Amer Bedwan and Mustapha Belcora were able to outlast the young Gamecocks.
 
Doubles Results – Jacksonville State 1
Reese/McCormick def. Baldo/Ndayishimiye • 6-3
Cucalon/Caffarena vs. Lau/Moreno • DNF
Chaim/Gomez def. Mansson/Racine • 6-2
 
Singles Results – Jacksonville State 2, Troy 4
Caffarena def. Ndayishimiye • 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
Lau def. Cucalon • 6-2, 6-2
Moreno def. Morck • 6-3, 6-4
Belcora def. Agost • 6-4, 3-6, 6-0
Bedwan def. Gomez • 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-1
Chaim def. Duan • 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
 
The Gamecocks return to action March 9 at the Jacksonville State Tennis Courts for a 1 p.m. match with Mercer. JSU is set to host Chattanooga the following day, March 10, at 1 p.m.
 
For more information on the JSU tennis teams, follow the Gamecocks on Twitter (@JSU_Tennis) and on Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUTennis). For more on all Gamecocks sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of JSU Athletics on Twitter (@JSUGamecocks), Facebook (Facebook.com/JSUGamecocks), Instagram (@JSUGamecocks) and Snapchat (@JSUGamecocks).