WACO, Texas – Program history continues to take place in 2024 as the East Texas Baptist University men's tennis team took down Hardin-Simmons University to advance to the American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship, 5-3. It is the first time in program history to defeat HSU and to advance to the ASC Championship match.
 
ETBU battled down to the end for the win earning a 2-1 advantage in doubles. After losing no. 1 doubles, 8-4, Zachary Couch and Slade Austin tied the match with an 8-4 win over Jose Torrez and Jameson Sorrell. Taking the 2-1 lead, Jacob Daniell and Erick Van Zyl battled back to take nan 8-7 win at no. 3 winning the tie breaker, 7-4.
 
HSU tied the match at two winning no. 3 singles and took at 3-2 lead taking the no. 4 match, 6-3, 6-3. Van Zyl then tied the match at three with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Jordan Oberbillig at no. 6. Max Karseno put ETBU up, 4-3, winning at no. 2, 6-3, 6-1, over Luke Cantu for the fourth team point. Austin then won the no. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-2, for a fifth point as ETBU upset HSU, 5-3, advancing on.
 
This was the ninth meeting between the two programs dating back to 2014. This year had the closest two matches with 5-4 loss in Brownwood on Mar. 23 before the win in the ASC Tournament. The win also was the second ASC Tournament win in program history as the first was in 2018 to advance to the semi-finals.
 
ETBU will now face no. 1 Concordia Texas at 1:00 p.m. in the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center in Waco.