BRADLEY, Ill. --- University of St. Francis ended its men's tennis season Thursday afternoon with a heartbreaking 5-3 loss to rival Olivet Nazarene University in the semifinal round of the NAIA National Tournament Qualifier at Bradley-Bourbonnais H.S.

The Saints (15-8), who dropped an 8-1 verdict to the same ONU team just 10 days ago at home, had opportunities to pull off the upset but dropped a close match at No. 2 doubles and lost a three-set bout at No. 5 singles. USF senior Luis Oliveira (Sao Laurenco, Brazil) was leading in the third set at No. 3 singles but that match was stopped when ONU earned its fifth point to seal the team victory.

USF secured a win at No. 1 doubles with seniors Oliveira and Scott Surges (Providence Catholic H.S./Joliet, IL) taking a 9-7 win in what would be their final doubles pairing of their collegiate careers. ONU rallied to defeat the Saints' No. 2 team of junior Jakub Szymanski (Bethany College KS/Poznan, Poland) and junior Jake Quigley (Joliet Catholic Academy/Joliet, IL) by a 9-8 score and the Tigers easily won at No. 3 doubles by an 8-1 count.

It was in singles play, though, where the Saints nearly reversed the dominance of ONU in the match from 10 days earlier. USF won just one singles bout in the April 19 match, but took two and led in the unfinished match on Thursday.

Surges at No. 2 and Quigley at No. 4 both won in straight sets after losing in straight sets to the same foes in the earlier match. ONU, though, took wins at No. 1, No. 5 and No. 6 to secure the win and advance to the finals on Friday against Aquinas College (Mich.).

The match at No. 5 singles went three sets before ONU's Victor Mesquita was able to knock off USF junior Erick Dobrzynski (Moraine Valley CC/Justice, IL) by scores of 6-1, 6-7 (4-7) and 6-1.

The Saints conclude a season which saw them get some national mention as they received votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll on more than one occasion. USF won seven of its 15 victories by perfect 9-0 scores and took three others by 8-1 counts.

Only two seniors --- Oliveira and Surges --- will be gone from next year's team so the future does look promising for Coach Jim Trudeau and his rapidly improving Saints program.