TULSA Okla. (SMU) – Top-seeded SMU defeated the number two seed Memphis 4-2 in the American Athletic Conference tournament championship to claim its first AAC title and 10^th conference championship in program history. The victory also gives the Mustangs an automatic bid into the NCAA Championships, marking the school's 24^th appearance.

Adam Neff and Liam Krall starred for SMU, winning their singles matches within minutes of each other to clinch the title. Krall was named Most Outstanding Player for his efforts throughout the AAC Championships.
 
SMU struck first in doubles as Neff and Pranav Kumar defeated Memphis' No. 29 ranked top doubles pairing for the second time this season. After winning a big deuce point to break and go up 4-2, the Mustangs never looked back, taking court one 6-2. The Tigers responded with a victory on court three. Huntley Allen and Julian Steinhausen saved a match point and battled, but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 4-6. Court three would decide the doubles point in a tiebreak after a back and forth match. Memphis pulled away with five straight points in the breaker, winning 7-2 to secure the 1-0 lead.
 
Julian Steinhausen pulled the Mustangs level with a dominant straight set victory on court five. The sophomore won the first set 6-4, before powering back to back aces to win the second 6-3.
 
Memphis took its second lead of the day with a three-set victory on court four. After falling in the first, Kumar battled back 6-1 in the second. Memphis' Pablo Alemany bounced back to take the decisive third set 6-2.
 
The Mustangs overcame their second deficit of the day as Ivan Thamma won on court six. The grad-senior battled to an outstanding 7-6 tiebreak win in the first set before handling his opponent 6-3 in the second.

With the score tied 2-2, all attention shifted to courts one through three. Neff played on the top line for SMU, taking the first set decisively 6-2. The second set would go to a tiebreak in which Neff jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Memphis' David Stevenson got hot at the right time, winning the next six points to take the set. SMU's sophomore showed tremendous resilience in the final set and came out victorious 6-4 to bring his team to within one point from the title.
 
Playing on court two, Krall split the first two sets with his opponent, 7-5, 2-6. The sophomore played solid tennis throughout the entire second set, taking a 5-3 lead with the opportunity to win on his serve. Just minutes after Neff took his match, Krall held with huge serves to defeat his opponent and clinch the title for SMU.
 
SMU Championship History
This is the Mustang's first AAC championship since the conference formed ahead of the 2013-14 season. SMU has now won 10 conference championships in program history, seven in the SWC ('78, '79, '82, '83, '85, '86, '87), two during its time in the WAC (1998, 2002), and one in the AAC (2022). The Mustangs have won their last three conference titles in Tulsa, Oklahoma. SMU will be making its 24^th NCAA tournament appearance in 2022 after securing an automatic bid.
 
Mustang Quotes
After clinching the match for SMU, Krall stated, "It's such an honor to be here. I'm so excited, I can't even put it into words. All the matches went out so quick. Ivan won, then Adam was up a break, and then that last game, I was just like this has to be it, you know?"
 
Neff added, "I remember looking at the scoreboard being 4-4 deuce in the third set and seeing Liam about to clinch, so I knew the importance of that point because we were two minutes from winning. We had one of the best points of the match, and I was lucky enough to pull it out, and then break to win. Funny enough, I thought I clinched because I figured Liam had already won, but it was special to be able to rush the court with the rest of the guys. So incredibly happy for this team after all the hard work we put in for so long. Not done yet, but we'll enjoy this one for a while."

NCAA Championships Bound
Having won the AAC Championship, SMU receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA tournament selection show will take place on May 2^nd at 5:00 p.m. CT. The Mustangs will be making their 24^th appearance in the tournament.

Winning Streaks
Julian Steinhausen has won his last eight singles matches, the last seven being in straight sets.

Liam Krall is on a seven-match winning streak. The former AAC Freshman of the Year is 17-3 in singles dual matches.

Steinhausen and Huntley Allen have won 13 of their last 15. They are 14-3 in dual play this season.

Singles
1. NEFF, Adam (SMU) def. David Stevenson (MEM) 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4
2. KRALL, Liam (SMU) def. Jeremy Taylor (MEM) 7-5, 2-6, 6-3
3. CHAKRAVARTHI, Caleb (SMU) vs. Oscar Cutting (MEM) 4-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
4. Pablo Alemany Malea (MEM) def. KUMAR, Pranav (SMU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
5. STEINHAUSEN, Julian (SMU) def. Pau Fanlo (MEM) 6-4, 6-3
6. THAMMA, Ivan (SMU) def. Harry Rock (MEM) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
 
Doubles
1. NEFF, Adam/KUMAR, Pranav (SMU) def. #29 David Stevenson/Jeremy Taylor (MEM) 6-2
2. Oscar Cutting/Pablo Alemany Malea (MEM) def. THAMMA, Ivan/CHAKRAVARTHI, Caleb (SMU) 7-6 (7-2)
3. Patrick Sydow/Pau Fanlo (MEM) def. STEINHAUSEN, Julian/ALLEN, Huntley (SMU) 6-4