USAFA, Colo. – MSU Denver battled NCAA Division I Southern Utah to the end in a men's tennis exhibition on Saturday, but couldn't hold on to an early lead in a 4-3 defeat.
 
"Our guys played their hearts out today," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "We're obviously disappointed we didn't capitalize on a 3-0 lead, but I can't fault the effort. Southern Utah is a really good team and we took it right to them today."
 
MSU Denver started the dual by earning the doubles point as the McDermott brothers (Billy and Jack) earned a 7-6 win over RJ Parker and Jake Williams and Mateo Besada and Daniel Llorente beat Juan Erro and Keonho Shin 6-4.
 
Then Llorente sailed to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Parker in No.1 singles and Besada beat Shin 6-4, 6-4. Besada also defeated a Division I opponent in singles Friday in an exhibition against Air Force.
 
But Southern Utah clawed its way back for four singles victories.

Saturday's results:

DOUBLES
No. 1: Billy McDermott/Jack McDermott (MSUD) def. RJ Parker/Jake Williams 7-6 (4)
No. 2: Mateo Besada/Daniel Llorente (MSUD) def. Juan Erro/Keonho Shin 6-4
No. 3: Nolan McCaig/Conor Tordoff (SUU) def. Alejandro Martinez-Morilla/Jordi Ribera 6-1

SINGLES
No. 1: Daniel Llorente (MSUD) def. RJ Parker 6-1, 6-0
No. 2: Nolan McCaig (SUU) def. Alejandro Martinez-Morilla 6-1, 7-6
No. 3: Mateo Besada (MSUD) def. Keonho Shin 6-4, 6-4
No. 4: Jake Williams (SUU) def. David Kijak 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
No. 5: Juan Erro (SUU) def. Billy McDermott 6-4, 6-2
No. 6: Jose Ortega (SUU) def. Jack McDermott 6-3, 7-5