The No. 1 West seeded Covenant men's tennis team nearly completed a comeback victory, but No. 4 East seeded Methodist held off the Scots in the final two singles matches to take a 5-4 victory in the first round of the USA South Tournament on Thursday at the Rome Tennis Center.
Covenant ends its season with a 12-6 overall record and a second straight USA South West Division regular season title. The Scots were presented with their regular season championship trophy prior to Thursday's match.
In the third all-time meeting between Covenant and Methodist in the tournament, it was another tightly-played contest.
Methodist (11-9) took a 2-1 lead after doubles play.
Covenant's point came at the No. 3 spot as Ben Luke and Camden Lashley combined for an 8-6 victory over Harrison Bitzberger and AJ Rogers. Methodist's top duo of Jordan Theron and Quinn McNamara outlasted Solomon Crouch and Austin Dreslinski at No. 1 by an 8-4 final.
In singles action, the teams split the six flights.
After Theron defeated Dreslinski 6-1, 6-1 at the top spot to put the Monarchs ahead 3-1, Covenant notched the next three points to grab a 4-3 lead in the match. Crouch was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Luke Laney at No. 4 and Cameron Cortman tied the contest with his 6-0, 7-5 win at No. 6 over Spencer Kieft. Gill Dunn then made it 4-3 Scots with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Rogers at No. 5.
Down to the final two matches, Methodist pulled off two close wins to squeeze past the Scots.
McNamara held off Ethan Gibson 6-2, 7-5 at No. 3 to even the score at 4-4 and then Henry Murray downed Luke at the No. 2 spot with a 7-6(8), 6-3 victory over the Covenant senior to clinch the contest for the Monarchs.
Methodist will take on No. 1 East seed Averett in the semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m.