SPRING, Texas – LeTourneau University men's tennis team has had a flair for the dramatics this year.
 
Chalk up another one.
 
Rodrigo Vazquez Chairez's comeback 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory over Race Haas at No. 2 singles lifted LeTourneau to a 5-4 win over University of St. Thomas Friday. Vazquez Chairez's triumph broke a 4-4 tie in an intense battle between the two schools.
 
Patrick Baney also authored a three-set victory to help the YellowJackets clinch the match. He overcame Tyler Head, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, at No. 3 singles in a pivotal match.
 
LeTourneau (5-2) trailed after doubles, 2-1. Julian Lee and Baney provided the lone point for the Jackets when they defeated Haas and Head, 8-4, at the top flight. UST's Juanrodrigo Lopez and Jace Ware were 8-3 winners over Vazquez Chairez and Nathan Schmidt at the No. 2 position. Dorian Cudina and Carson Steele gutted out an 8-6 victory over Miles Grubbs and Jonah McGinty at No. 3. It was Grubbs and McGinty's first loss of the season, snapping a six-match win streak.
 
Schmidt tied the match at 2-2 when he rolled past Ware, 6-0, 6-2, at No. 4 singles. The Celts (2-3) reclaimed the lead when Cudina beat Alex Barrero Osuna, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 5 singles. Baney's win evened the match at 3-3.
 
Lopez defeated Lee, 6-4, 6-4, at No. 1 singles to put St. Thomas in front again, 4-3. Jeffrey Golladay won by default over Steele at the No. 6 position, while leading 6-1, 1-0. That tied the match at 4-all, setting the stage for Vazquez Chairez's thrilling victory.
 
Vazquez Chairez and Baney both claimed their team-leading sixth singles wins of the season.
 
LeTourneau will host Howard Payne next Friday at 10 a.m.