Brahm Moolman's straight-set win at No. 6 singles tied the match, but Mount Olive's rally came up short as the nationally 50th-ranked Trojans fell to No. 42 Wingate 5-4 in non-conference men's tennis Sunday at Wingate, N.C. The contest was a rematch of the first round of last year's NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
Mount Olive (12-3) led 2-1 after doubles play, but Wingate (14-8) won three of the first four singles matches to take the lead. Akio Mariano posted a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles. Moolman posted a 6-3, 6-3 win to keep the Trojans in the match. Stan Roffe rebounded from a 6-4 loss in the first set at No. 5 singles with a 6-4 win in the second set. Roffe was within 4-3 in the third set before Wingate's Ryan Forbes won the final two games to give the Bulldogs the win.
The Trojans wrap up regular season play this week with a pair of Conference Carolinas matches on the road, starting with a battle of conference unbeatens Thursday at Coker. Mount Olive is at Limestone Sunday in the Trojans' regular season finale. The 2013 Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Tournament takes place April 19-21 at Sumter, S.C.