JACKSONVILLE, FL--Seventh seeded USC Aiken lost to Columbus State University, the sixth seed, 5-3, today at the Peach Belt Conference Championships being played at the University of North Florida Tennis Complex in Jacksonville, Fla. The Pacers finish off their 2003 season with an 8-8 overall record while the Cougars improve to 12-7 on the season. With the loss, USCA fails to finish in the top six of the eight-team tournament.

USC Aiken's only senior, Kiril Popov, ended his collegiate career by beating 41st ranked Tim Child in the number one singles match by a score of 6-3 and 6-4. Fernando Guevara defeated Tracy Strozier, 6-2 and 6-4, for the Pacer's only other singles win.

Nicolas Lombardo closed out his freshman season with a three set loss to Fernando Gallegos, 5-7, 6-2 and 6-3.

On the doubles side, USCA won one of three matches. Popov teamed with Carlos Huerta to beat Child and Humberto Rodriguez, 9-7. 

Columbus State defeats USC Aiken 5-3
Singles:
#1 Kiril Popov (USCA) defeated Tim Child (CSU) 6-3, 6-4
#3 Fernando Guevara (USCA) defeated Tracy Strozier (CSU) 6-2, 6-4
#4 Fernando Gallegos (CSU) defeated Nicolas Lombardo (USCA) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
#5 Humberto Rodriguez (CSU) defeated Carlos Huerta (USCA) 6-3, 6-0
#6 Jan Greef (CSU) defeated Bogdan Diaconescu (USCA) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles:
#1 Popov/Huerta (USCA) defeated Child/Rodriguez (CSU) 9-7
#2 Greef/Pelletier (CSU) defeated Harshit Sharma/Lombardo (USCA) 8-6
#3 Razvan Druica (CSU) defeated Guevara/Francis Combier (USCA) 8-0

Records:
USC Aiken 8-8, Columbus State 12-7