SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 27 Augusta State's men's tennis team fell to No. 20 Lander, 5-1 in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Southeast Regional on Thursday afternoon in Savannah, Ga.

The Jaguars (10-11) end their season after a third straight NCAA regionals berth. The win by the Bearcats (9-8) was their 45th in NCAA DII tournament history as Lander improved to 45-8 all-time in NCAA postseason play.

Lander took a commanding 3-0 lead after doubles. Gary Bertoldo and Levan Clark notched a quick 8-1 win over Guilherme Ferraz and Rafael Milhati at No. 3 doubles. TC Valle and Sheharyar Wali then collected an 8-5 win over Bernardo Fernandes and Jenner Stevenson at No. 1 doubles, while Damien Cordesse and Juan Manrique completed the doubles sweep with an 8-5 win over Henrique Boturao and Frederico Mendes at No. 2 doubles.

Augusta State made it a match in singles, by winning four of the first six sets. Stevenson took advantage of a hobbled Cordesse to win, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 1 singles for the Jaguars' first point. But Valle notched a 6-1, 6-0 win over Ferraz at No. 4 singles, then Clark closed out the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Boturao at No. 2 doubles.

Lander now advances to face host and defending DII national champion Armstrong Atlantic at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in second round action.

Men's Single Results:

1. Jenner Stevenson (ASU) def. Damien Cordesse (LU) 6-0, 6-1
2. Levan Clark (LU) def. Henrique Boturao (ASU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Sheharyar Wali (LU) vs. Bernardo Fernandes (ASU) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0, unfinished
4. TC Valle (LU) def. Guilherme Ferraz (ASU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Juan Manrique (LU) vs. Rafael Milhati (ASU) 1-6, 2-5, unfinished
6. Max Desmars (LU) vs. Frederico Mendes (ASU) 4-6, 2-3, unfinished

Men's Doubles Results:

1. TC Valle/Sheharyar Wali (LU) def. Bernardo Fernandes/Jenner Stevenson (ASU) 8-5
2. Damien Cordesse/Juan Manrique (LU) def. Henrique Boturao/Frederico Mendes (ASU) 8-5
3. Gary Bertoldo/Levan Clark (LU) def. Guilherme Ferraz/Rafael Milhati (ASU) 8-1