ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The University of South Carolina Aiken men's tennis team lost an 8-1 decision at Flagler Friday afternoon. 
 
The Pacers are now 6-3 on the season, including a 2-2 mark against Peach Belt Conference foes. The Saints are now 5-4 overall, including a 2-1 record in league play. 
 
Despite the score, head coach Steve Dahm's team played extremely competitive throughout the day. Top-seeded Ettore Damiani and Julien Tan narrowly lost an 8-6 decision in doubles action. Clement Raymond and Mathias Degardin lost by the same score at the No. 2 spot. Third-seeded Hunter Lathrop and  Alejandro Andino pushed their opposition to the brink before falling 9-7. 
 
Tan dropped his No. 1 singles match 6-2, 6-4. Damiani, playing at the No. 2 spot, continued his stellar start to the season by picking up a 6-1, 6-2 win.  
 
Degardin fell by a 6-4, 6-3, count at the No. 3 slot while Raymond played three sets, but lost a 6-2 decision in the final stanza. 
 
Andino played a thrilling three-set match as well, but came up just short. He won the first set 7-6 before falling 7-6 in the second set. Andino dropped the final set 6-4. 
 
The Pacers return to action March 16 when they travel to Benedict for a match starting at 2 p.m.