AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 13 University of South Carolina Aiken men's tennis team lost a 7-2 decision against visiting No. 9 Columbus St. Sunday afternoon in a Peach Belt Conference match.

The Pacers are now 7-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play.

In doubles play, USC Aiken only managed to take the No. 2 position, dropping the first and second matches. Alejandro Andino and Patrick Stiebinger took an 8-5 loss at the No. 1 spot. Ettore Damiani and Lucas Gobbi came down to the wire, pulling out the win at the No. 2 slot, 9-7. Andy Quirk and Roran Reberac finished the final doubles match with an 8-4 loss in the No. 3 spot.

Damiani won a hard fought match over his opponent in the No. 1 position, going three sets and winning by scores of 6-7, 6-3 and 6-3.

Quirk put up a fight in the No. 3 slot, but came up short in both sets with 6-3 and 6-4 scores, respectively. In a similar fashion, Gobbi fell at the No. 4 position, with set scores of 6-4 and 6-1 for the loss.

Stiebinger dropped both sets by straight scores of 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5 while Zahn took a two set loss of 6-4, 6-1 at the No. 6 position

The Pacers return to action March 22 after a two-week break when they play Flagler, starting at 3 p.m, in Savannah, Ga.