ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons' men's tennis team used a sweep of doubles to propel itself to a 5-4 win over crosstown rival McMurry and with the win the Cowboys reclaimed the American Southwest Conference West Division title.

The Cowboys won every ASC West title from 2000 until losing it to McMurry in 2009. McMurry also won it last year, but the Cowboys pulled the upset to reclaim the West title. The Cowboys improved to 10-7 overall and to 6-0 in ASC West play. McMurry is 18-3 with the loss and 5-1 in ASC West play.

Both teams advance to next week's ASC Tournament in Belton. The Cowboys will receive a first-round bye and will play on Saturday. McMurry will play a Friday match. The tournament bracket will be announced on Saturday once all of league play is complete.

HSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a sweep at doubles. Sean Strehlow and Erich Mein beat Chris Bumann and Daniel Olivares, 8-5 at No. 1. Andy Cariens and Emmanuel Navejas teamed at No. 2 doubles for an easy 8-3 win over Bryan Rainwater and Chris Breaux.

The match may have been won at No. 3 singles where Tony Record and freshman Michael McCullough pulled out a 9-7 win over Adam Ewing and Tony Williams.

The Cowboys carried the momentum over to singles play as HSU got off to a good start in singles. Cariens won at No. 2 singles to make 6-0, 7-5 over Olivares and Breaux beat the Cowboys Culleen Dees 6-2, 6-2 to make it 4-1 and Rainwater beat Navejas 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 to make it 4-2 HSU.

McMurry then got a three-set win from Bumann at No. 1 over Bein to make it 6-7, 7-6, 6-1 and Tony Williams won a three-setter over McCullough at No. 6 to tie the match at 4-4.

Sean Strehlow then gutted his way through a tough three-setter to give the Cowboys the win. He beat Ewing 6-3 in the first set and lost 7-5 in the second set. In the third set he won 6-4 to set off a mad Cowboy celebration.

"Sean is the guy you want out there with the match on the line," HSU head coach Shane Williford said. "He is so tough and he will grind with you no matter what the situation. This is a big win for our program to win the West and get that back on this side of town.

"Now we should have some confidence at the Conference Tournament next week. We really competed today and I have been waiting on that. I knew we had it in us. McMurry has a great team, we just got that early momentum in doubles and then Sean and Andy came up big time for us in singles."

-Courtesy Hardin-Simmons University Sports Information Department

Hardin-Simmons 5, McMurry 4

Singles

1. Chris Bumann (MCM) def. Erich Bein, 6-7, 7-6, 6-1

2. Andy Cariens (HSU) def. Daniel Olivares, 6-0, 7-5

3. Bryan Rainwater (MCM) def. Emmanuel Navejas, 6-3, 6-4

4. Chris Breaux (MCM) def. Cullen Dees, 6-2, 6-2

5. Sean Strehlow (HSU) def. Adam Ewing, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4

6. Tony Williams (MCM) def. Michael McCullough, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4

Doubles

1. Strehlow/ Bein (HSU) def. Bumann/ Olivares, 8-5

2. Cariens/Navejas (HSU) def. Rainwater/ Breaux, 8-3

3. Tony Record/ McCullough (HSU) def. Ewing/ Williams, 9-7