CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Fairmont State men's tennis team won the Mountain East Conference Tournament Championship for the first time in program history after defeating Charleston 4-3 in the championship match.
 
With the score tied at 3-3, Kan Watanabe won a tiebreaker in the third set, 7-4, to give the Falcons the MEC Tournament Championship.

"Everyone fought their hearts out," said Fairmont State head coach and MEC Men's Tennis Coach of the Year Terry Deremer. "Kan showed a lot of guts after being down 4-2 and 5-4. It's a great win, especially defeating a great team like Charleston. I am proud of our team and what they accomplished."
 
Fairmont State dropped the doubles point despite Elia Barozzi and Seena Saadevandi winning 6-3 at No. 2 doubles. The Golden Eagles earned the point after taking No. 1 & No. 3 doubles.
 
Barozzi won in straight sets (6-2, 6-4) in No. 1 singles. Alexandre Pages completed a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 4 singles. Mohamed El Helaly defeated his opponent (6-2, 6-2) in spot No. 5. The Golden Eagles claimed victories in No. 3 singles and No. 6 singles, setting up a winner-take-all match at No. 2 singles.
 
Watanabe earned a 6-3 win in the opening set and dropped the second set, 3-6. He trailed 5-2 in the third set and roared back and won three consecutive games to force a tiebreaker. Watanabe completed the comeback in the tiebreaker and won 7-4 to secure the championship for the Fighting Falcons.
 
The Fairmont State men's tennis team earned an automatic bid to the Atlantic Regional Tournament following the conference tournament championship. The tournament committee will reveal the field tomorrow (April 24) at 8 p.m. during the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Selection Show on ncaa.com.