SAINT PETER, Minn. - No. 16 Gustavus men's tennis concluded play at the 2025 ITA Division III National Team Indoor Championships on Sunday afternoon with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to No. 11 Trinity in the seventh place match.
Trinity claimed the first point of the match by winning Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, 7-5 and 6-4, respectively.
Dominik Knutson and
Taona Mhwandagara were tied 5-5 at No. 3 when Trinity clinched the doubles point.
The Gusties roared back in singles with three quick straight set wins.
Tyler Haddorff won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6, followed by a 6-0, 6-4 win for
Josh Christensen at No. 3, and then a 6-2, 6-3 win for
Gage Gohl at No. 2.
Down but not out, Trinity fought all the way back, starting with a win at No. 1, followed by another win at No. 4. With all eyes on court five,
Rafael de Camargo Costa put together an impressive comeback after losing the first set 6-2. Costa then won the second 7-6 (7-3). Trailing 5-2 in the third, Costa won four straight games for a 6-5 lead. Liao of Trinity won the next to send it to the breaker. Costa held match point at 6-4, but Liao won three straight to deliver the gut punch.
Gustavus now hits the road for its spring break trip next week, starting with matches against Mary Washington and Riverside City College in California on March 7.
