The 2017-18 season came to an end for the American Athletic Conference’s two NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship participants as Memphis and Tulane fell in the first round of the tournament Friday.
 
Memphis dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker to South Alabama, while Tulane fell 4-1 to Alabama in Friday’s first-round matches, ending The American’s run of four straight seasons with at least two teams that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.
 
South Alabama 4, Memphis 3
Memphis held a 3-1 lead against the Jaguars, but the Tigers were unable to secure the clinching point as South Alabama closed with three straight singles wins and end Memphis’ season. The Tigers, who entered the tournament ranked No. 21 nationally, fell despite wins in both singles and doubles from senior Ryan Peniston, who took a straight-set victory at No. 1 singles and paired with Andrew Watson for a 7-5 doubles win against the No. 51-ranked tandem nationally.
 
Memphis ended its season with an 18-6 record.
 
Alabama 4, Tulane 1
Tulane saw its streak of wins in six straight NCAA appearances end as the Green Wave dropped a closely contested doubles point and took one of the four singles matches that went to completion. Sophomore Ewan Moore was the lone singles winner for Tulane with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 2. Moore also joined American Player of the Year Constantin Schmitz for a 6-3 doubles win against the nation’s No. 26-ranked tandem. Alabama took the No. 3 doubles match and clinched the doubles point with a 9-7 tiebreaker win at No. 2.
 
Tulane, which had a seven-match winning streak snapped, ended its season at 18-7.
 
 
 
NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
American Athletic Conference Pairings
First Round May 11
                                                                                
at Tallahassee, Fla.
Alabama 4, Tulane 1
 
at Starkville, Miss.
South Alabama 4, Memphis 3