Box Score
 
DALLAS (SMU) – SMU Men's Tennis fell short 4-3 in a four-hour thriller against No. 2 Ohio State in the first round of the ITA National Indoor Championship at Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex on Friday.
 
The Mustangs dropped the doubles point in a tiebreaker on court three that went to Ohio State (7-6(5)). Both teams won three singles matches, with two courts going to the third set.
 
Alex Finkelstein and Trevor Svajda grabbed their first ranked win as a doubles pair against No. 7 Alex Okonkwo and Alexander Bernard (7-6(2)).
 
Svajda remained undefeated in the spring season by winning his singles match in straight sets. He is now 6-0 in singles play without dropping a single set and now has three ranked wins this spring.
 
Finkelstein recorded his first ranked singles win for SMU against the No. 22-ranked Preston Stearns (7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4).
 
How it Went
SMU dropped the doubles point in a grueling doubles battle that saw two matches going into a tiebreaker.
 
OSU's top-ranked doubles pair, Nikita Filin and Brandon Carpico, defeated Georgi Georgiev and Vikas Deo on court two (6-2).
 
On court one, Trevor Svajda and Alex Finkelstein earned their first ranked doubles win over No. 7 Alex Okonkwo and Alexander Bernard in a tiebreaker (7-6(2)).
 
Jerry Barton and Krish Arora forced No. 8 Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima to a tiebreaker but fell short as the Buckeyes took the double point (7-6(5)).
 
Ohio State extended the lead by winning the first singles point of the match on court six. No. 98 Nikita Filin defeated Noah McDonald 6-1, 6-4.
 
SMU reduced the deficit as Trevor Svajda resumes his dominance in singles play with a straight-set win. He defeated No. 13 Aidan Kim 6-4, 6-2 to make it 2-1 for Ohio State.
 
The Buckeyes responded shortly after Svajda's win. No. 29 Bryce Nakashima defeated Krish Arora (6-4, 6-2) on court four to regain the visitors' two-point lead.
 
Jerry Barton puts the Mustangs back in the game by winning his match on court five against Loren Byers (6-2, 7-6(5)). The score stood 3-2 for Ohio State.
 
Alex Finkelstein and Georgi Georgiev's matches on courts two and three both went to the third set.
Finkelstein bounced back from losing the second set to win his match 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4 over No. 22 Preston Stearns on court two.
 
Georgiev's three-set battle went to a tiebreaker in the final set. He fell short on clinching the upset, dropping his match against No. 24 Jack Anthrop (6-3, 4-6, 7-6(1)).
 
Doubles Scores
1. Trevor Svajda / Alex Finkelstein vs. No. 7 Alex Okonkwo / Alexander Bernard (7-6(2))
2. No. 1 Nikita Filin / Brandon Carpico def. Georgi Georgiev / Vikas Deo (6-3)
3. Jerry Barton / Krish Arora def.  No. 8 Aidan Kim / Bryce Nakashima (7-6(5)).
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
 
Singles Scores
1. No. 1 Trevor Svajda def. No. 13 Aidan Kim (6-4, 6-2)
2. Alex Finkelstein def. No.  22 Preston Stearns (7-6(3), 3-6, 6-4)
3. No. 24 Jack Anthrop def. Georgi Georgiev (6-3, 4-6, 7-6(1))
4. No. 29 Bryce Nakashima def. Krish Arora (6-4, 6-2)
5. Jerry Barton def. Loren Byers (6-2, 7-6(5))
6. No. 98 Nikita Filin def. Noah McDonald (6-1, 6-4)
Order of Finish: 6, 1, 4, 5, 2, 3
 
What's Next?
SMU will take on the No. 22 Arizona State to resume its ITA National Indoor Championship at Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at 9 am CT on Saturday.