After nearly seven hours on the court, the Colorado College men's tennis team edged Austin College, 5-4, in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Championships in Kerrville, Texas. The Tigers, seeded fifth, will face top-seed Trinity in the semifinals on Saturday at 8 a.m. (CT).
 
"This was one of the most intense matches I've ever seen," head coach Anthony Weber said. "Both teams had plenty to prove and showed tremendous pride in their programs."
 
The Tigers, who snapped an 11-match losing streak, took an early 2-1 lead by winning at the Nos. 1 and 3 doubles spots. Junior Jason Gutierrez and freshman Daniel Holland won at the No. 1 position, 8-5, over Cedric Ambulo and Josh Granberry, while junior Jack Benham and freshman Christian Kitchen defeated Jeff Kubena and Daniel Oxenreiter, 8-2, at No. 3.  
 
"We played some of the strongest doubles we have all year," Weber said. "We closed the net and finished points in all the matches."
 
All the Tigers (7-15) needed to do was split the six singles matches to advance. And with only four courts available, they did just that, it just took a while. Gutierrez was extended at the No. 1 spot by Ambulo but pulled out a 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 victory, while senior Taylor Delehanty was impressive in a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Granberry at No. 3.
 
Austin College, seeded fourth at the tournament, won the Nos. 2, 3 and 5 matches in straight sets, setting up the deciding match at the No. 6 position between CC senior Casey Shaw and Austin's Oxenreiter. After losing a tight first set 7-5, Shaw cruised to win the last two sets, 6-0 and 6-2 to clinch the match for CC. It is Shaw's first singles victory of the season.  
 
"Casey is playing his best tennis for us at the right time," said Weber.
 
The No. 2 seed Southwestern University and third-seeded Schreiner will meet in the other semifinal Saturday morning.
 
(5) Colorado College 5, (4) Austin College 4
April 22, 2016
Kerrville, Texas
Quarterfinal – SCAC Tournament

Doubles
1. Jason Gutierrez / Daniel Holland (CC) def. Cedric Ambulo / Josh Granberry, 8-5
2. Erik Meendsen / Preston Glasscock (AC) def. Brian Chen / Taylor Delehanty, 8-6
3. Jack Benham / Christian Kitchen (CC) def. Jeff Kubena / Daniel Oxenreiter, 8-2

Singles
1. Jason Gutierrez (CC) def. Cedric Ambulo, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
2. Erik Meendsen (AC) def. Daniel Holland, 6-2, 7-6
3. Taylor Delehanty (CC) def. Josh Granberry, 6-4, 6-2
4. Kenneth Hardy (AC) def. Brian Chen, 6-2, 6-3
5. Preston Glasscock (AC) def. Jack Benham, 6-3, 6-2
6. Casey Shaw (CC) def. Daniel Oxenreiter, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2