San Antonio, Texas – In an absolutely epic battle, No. 2 seed NJIT held off top-seeded UIW, 4-3, to claim the 2024 Southland Men's Tennis Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon at the McFarlin Tennis Center.

It is the Highlanders first tournament championship ever and it did not come easy as the two squads put together an incredible match. 

NJIT secured the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Wil Jenkins and Pablo Perez Ramos downed Jose Garmendia and Joao Sasso 6-3. German Lopez Andujar and Pavel Petrov defeated Noah De Luna and Arnau Miralles 6-4 to clinch the doubles point against the Cardinals.

UIW started off strong in singles winning at No. 3 and No. 4. Emilio Vila took down Nejc Skorjanc 7-5, 6-1 and Jose Garmendia won 7-5, 6-0 against Pavel Petrov. However, NJIT"s German Lopez Andujar answered with a win over Noah De Luna 6-3, 6-2 at No. 6. The Higlanders won their third point of the match at No. 2 when Wil Jenkins defeated Tomas Reche 6-3, 6-4. 

it all came down to Pablo Perez Ramos against Joao Sasso. Ultimately Perez Ramos defeated the Cardinals 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1. 

The Highlanders will await their destination for the NCAA Tournament later this month.