Box Score WACO, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowboy tennis team defeated the Ozarks Eagles 5-4 in the opening round of the American Southwest Conference tournament to advance to the ASC semifinal against ETBU.
 
Hardin-Simmons won one doubles match with the team of Luke Cantu and Justus Petersilie winning 8-2 over Molero Llopis and Wilde in the first flight.
 
The Cowboys needed four wins in six singles flights to take the match 5-4 over Ozarks.
 
Payne Smith got the first singles win in the fourth flight against Lenkopane, winning 6-2, 6-3 for the Cowboys.
 
Brandon Curiel came from down a set in the fifth flight to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 playing Ozark's Guidry.
 
Zach Fowler won 6-1, 6-3 for the Cowboys in the third flight against Wilde and the match came down to a long set three at the ace singles spot.
 
Petersilie had the first set 6-0 for the Cowboys against Molero Llopis, but the Eagles drew even winning the second set on tiebreakers 7-6(5). Petersilie secured the Cowboy win in the ASC tournament quarterfinal ending with sets of 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-3.
 
The Cowboys advance to the ASC semifinal tomorrow at 10 a.m. against East Texas Baptist in Waco.
 
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