DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Two years ago, Bethune-Cookman was a one-win team. On Monday, the Wildcats were battling for a number one seed at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament.

There's still work to do, but Head Coach Val Villucci could appreciate the progress despite a 5-2 setback to South Carolina State in the regular season finale Monday at City Island Tennis Center.

"The guys have come a long way in a short amount time," Villucci said. "It's because of the hard work and the extra time they've put in. They didn't give up."

South Carolina State (8-12 overall, 4-0 conference) will be the Southern Division's top seed at the conference tournament April 25-27 in Norfolk, Va.  The Wildcats (6-9,2-2) settle for a No. 3 seed. A BCU victory Monday would have produced a three-way tie.

"They [SCSU] beat us today," Villucci said. "They played well and did what it took."

Highlights for the Wildcats were the victories of Victor Bravo and Victor Castro at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. 

Castro recovered from dropping the first set in a tiebreaker  and a 5-2 second set deficit to win his match, giving the freshman a 4-0 mark in conference play. It was his sixth straight victory.

"My head was down after the first set," Castro. "I started thinking more and just fighting."

Bravo improved to 7-5 in singles with his victory, overcoming several double faults in the first set.

"I was playing against myself," Bravo said. "I just had to keep competing."

NOTES: Castro and Juan Navarro finished the regular season each with eight wins… BCU won two more matches than it did last season.