HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Blazer tennis has fallen.

Valdosta State’s men’s tennis team, a perfect 18-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country, was upset by rival West Florida 5-2 in the finals of the Gulf South Conference men’s tennis championship Sunday.

Two-time defending national champion West Florida, ranked No. 3 in the country and coached by former VSU tennis player Derrick Racine, captured its eight conference championship.

The Argonauts took a 2-1 edge in double action behind Alberto Torchia and Eduardo Cavasotti’s 8-5 victory at No. 1 and Nicoals Barrientos and Luis Arboleda’s 8-5 triumph at No. 3. VSU’s Leos Jelinek and Niko Overkemping countered with an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles.

In singles, West Florida took a 4-1 lead with Nicolas Barrientos’ win at No. 4 singles (6-1, 6-1) and Vivian Chhetri’s win at No. 6 (6-2, 6-0). The Blazers cut the deficit to two via Jelinek’s victory at No. 3 (6-3, 6-3). The defending GSC champions took over from there, slamming the door on Gael Gaetjens’ 6-0, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles. Valdosta State had defeated West Florida 8-1 in late February.

Valdosta State’s women also fell victim to West Florida in the conference finals Sunday. The No. 3 Lady Argonauts blanked the No. 14 Lady Blazers, 5-0. It was their eighth conference title as well.

West Florida got off to a quick start in doubles play, sweeping all three matches. Suzanna Cavalcante and Paola Arevalo squeaked out an 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles, followed by wins at No. 2 by Tammy Kevey and Mandy Septoe (8-3) and at No. 3 by Anne Claire Beard and Tatiana Rodrigues (8-1).

The Lady Argonauts then closed out the match with a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles by Cavalcante and a 6-0, 6-0 triumph at No. 4 by Arevalo.

The win marked the sixth time in school history that West Florida has won both the men’s and women’s tennis titles in the same year (they are the only GSC school to ever win both in one season).

Next up for Valdosta State’s tennis teams will be the Division II South regionals on May 4-5. The men should host their regional, while the women’s will be determined in the next few days.