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RALEIGH, NC—The Bloomsburg University men's tennis team (16-6) fell this afternoon in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Finals to second seeded Shaw University (23-2), 5-4.  With the loss, Bloomsburg is eliminated from this year's NCAA Championships in Louisville, KY.

The third seeded Huskies could not have asked for a better start to the finals as they swept the doubles matches for the 10th time this season.  Ricky Dove (Port Matilda/State College Area) and Mark Schroeder (Basking Ridge, NJ/Ridge) were 8-5 winners at the first spot, as was Lee Wexler (Lafayette Hill/Plymouth-Whitemarsh) and partner Jeff Nuhfer (Warren/Warren Area) at second doubles. 

Bloomsburg tallied their other doubles victory at the third position as Mike DiSanto (Center Valley/Southern Lehigh) and Tyler Pultro (New Britain/Central Bucks West) rolled to an 8-3 win.  Together the duo has won 17 matches this season at the third spot. 

With the wins, Bloomsburg was in need of just two singles victories to advance to Louisville, KY for the NCAA Championships.  The Bears rallied in the singles portion of today's match, tying the match score at 3-3 with wins at second, third, and fourth singles. 

In need of a momentum shift, Bloomsburg got it as DiSanto put the Huskies back on top with a three set victory.  After rolling in the first set 6-1, he would be edged in a second set tiebreaker.  A mix-up in the third set resulted in a tiebreaker being played instead of a full set.  DiSanto would eventually pull out a 7-3 win in the third to inch the Huskies closer to a trip to Louisville. 

The final two matches of the day came down to Bloomsburg's two most winning singles players this season in Dove and Pultro.  After dropping the first set at 6-1, Dove rallied in the second set, taking it by an identical 6-1 mark.  However, Dove fell by a single break in the third, losing 6-3 as the match was knotted up at 4-4. 

With the match even at four-all, Bloomsburg's chances to advance rested with Pultro at the five spot.  Like Dove, Pultro lost his first set at 6-3 but bounced back with a 6-4 win in the second set, forcing a third to decide the match.  Unfortunately, Pultro's rally fell short in the third as he dropped the set by a break at 7-5. 

With the loss Bloomsburg concludes the 2011-12 season with a 16-6 overall record.  It was just the second time all year Bloomsburg lost a match after sweeping the doubles.