ARKADELPHIA – All attention shifted to court one to determine the winner of Sunday's top 25 battle between No. 23 Ouachita and No. 24 Mississippi College, which ended in favor of the Choctaws 4-3.

With the match tied 3-3, No. 1 singles was the only matchup remaining with Ouachita's Phil Exner, ranked 13th in the nation in singles, against MC's Alex Benichou Blanchard, ranked 28th nationally. Exner took the first set 6-3, but Benichou Blanchard battled back with a 6-4 win in the second and then sealed the game-winning point with a 6-1 win in the tiebreaker.

The Choctaws (5-0) started the day by earning the doubles point with wins in second and third position. Phil Exner and Alex Blanchar, ranked fourth in doubles, won in first position 6-3.

In singles, Ouachita's Aaron Osmond made quick work of his opponent in fourth position by scores of 6-0 and 6-2 to even the match at 1-1. Alex Blanchar was next in second position with a pair of 6-2 scores in second position to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. The Choctaws came through with wins in fifth and six position to regain the lead at 3-2 before Fernando Docters evened the match with a two-set win in third position.

The Tigers (3-1) head to Tyler, Texas next weekend to take on UT-Tyler on Saturday, February 24 and St. Mary's on Sunday.

NO. 24 MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 4, NO. 23 OUACHITA 3
 
DOUBLES

1. No. 4 Exner/Blanchar (OUA) def. Rafael Sabio/Felipe Iser (MC) 6-3
2. Benichou Blanchard/Walker Ellis (MC) def. Elias Lagger/Osmond (OUA) 6-1
3. Alvaro Saint Martin/Joe Jarvis (MC) def. Mortiz Buss/Docters (OUA) 6-3

 
SINGLES

1. No. 28 Benichou Blanchard (MC) def. No. 13 Exner (OUA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Blanchar (OUA) def. Sabio (MC) 6-2, 6-2
3. Docters (OUA) def. Saint Martin (MC) 6-4, 6-2
4. Osmond (OUA) def. Jarvis (MC) 6-0, 6-2
5. Sergio Ramirez Ocana (MC) def. Buss (OUA) 6-3, 6-1
6. Antoine Nivault (MC) def. Lagger (OUA) 6-2, 6-4