MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- The consolation in this: Marco Mokrzycki has been on his "A" game.
Barry University dropped a 6-3 decision to Lynn University Wednesday in the final men's tennis home match of the season. The No. 3-ranked Buccaneers (18-5, 4-2 Sunshine State Conference) head to the conference tournament April 19-21 in Lakeland as the No. 3 seed. The No. 4 Fighting Knights (15-2, 6-0) are the top seed ahead of No. 2 Rollins (14-6, 5-1).
This marks the first time since 2007 the Buccaneers have finished with two losses in SSC play.
The good news is Mokrzycki has been on fire of late. The No. 11-ranked German star continued his impressive run through some of the nation's top-ranked opponents, beating No. 8 Willi Wolfer, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) at No. 1 singles. Mokrzycki is now 13-3 overall and 7-1 against nationally-ranked opponents.
His singles victory pulled the Bucs within 4-3 in the team points. Mokrzycki and Leo Vivas, ranked No. 13 in doubles, beat Max Kouyate and Amaury Van Haelen, 8-6, in the first doubles match to finish.
Vivas and Mokrzycki are 11-3 in pairs play.
Vivas won his No. 5 singles match over Benji Kendall, 6-4, 6-1 for the Bucs' second team point. He is now 18-4 this season.
But the Buccaneers dropped a pair of third-set matches and two more singles matches in straight sets, allowing the Fighting Knights to wrap up the top seed at the conference tournament.
Barry will host the SSC Championships at Beerman Tennis Center.