Butler won the 2017 BIG EAST title in dramatic fashion, coming back to take a 4-3 win over Marquette Sunday morning in Cayce, S.C.
 
Butler, now 18-5 on the season, will return to the NCAA Tournament in men's tennis for the first time since 2007. This is Butler's fourth BIG EAST title, joining championships in women's soccer (2015), softball (2016) and men's soccer (2016).
 
All three of Butler's BIG EAST Tournament matches came down to the final court with Sunday's being the most dramatic comeback for the Bulldogs. Marquette took the doubles point for an early 1-0 lead in the match.
 
Mikheil Khmiadashvili, who clinched both of Butler's 4-3 wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, made quick work of his No. 3 singles match, winning 6-3, 6-0 over Greg Anderson. Khmiadashvili was selected as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. 

His win Sunday tied the team score at 1-1.
 
The next two results would belong to Marquette as the Golden Eagles took the fifth and sixth courts for a 3-1 lead. Butler would need the remaining three singles matches.
 
Spencer Lang won his match at the No. 4 spot, 6-3, 7-6, over Nick Dykema, pulling the Bulldogs within 3-2.
 
Aviv Ben Shabat and Mason Dragos both lost the first set in their matches, but rallied for 6-3 wins in their respective second sets. Dragos made short work of Luke Smrek in the third set, taking a 6-1 win. That leveled the match at 3-3 and left Ben Shabat to be the hero.
 
Ben Shabat went up 3-1 after an early break of serve and was able to pull out the third set, 6-4, for the Butler win.
 
Butler, which entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed, had defeated Marquette earlier in the season. That 6-1 win came easier than Sunday's decision. Marquette was the No. 5 seed. The Golden Eagles defeated top-seeded DePaul in Saturday's semifinals to earn the appearance in the championship match.
 
The Bulldogs will now await their NCAA Tournament location and opponent. The bracket will be released Tuesday at 5 p.m.
 
Tennis Match Results
Marquette Men's Tennis vs Butler Men's Tennis
Apr 30, 2017 at Cayce, South Carolina
(Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center)
 
Butler Men's Tennis 4, Marquette Men's Tennis 3
 
Singles competition
1. Aviv Ben Shabat (BM) def. Alvaro Verdu (MM) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Mason Dragos (BM) def. Luke Smrek (MM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Mikheil Khmiadashvili (BM) def. Greg Anderson (MM) 6-3, 6-0
4. Spencer Lang (BM) def. Nick Dykema (MM) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Kris Trukov (MM) def. Ari Gerstein (BM) 6-3, 6-2
6. Brett Meyers (MM) def. Temilope Adelakun (BM) 6-3, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Aviv Ben Shabat/Mikheil Khmiadashvili (BM) vs. Alvaro Verdu/Nick Dykema (MM) unfinished
2. Kris Trukov/Brett Meyers (MM) def. Mason Dragos/Spencer Lang (BM) 6-3
3. Luke Smrek/Greg Anderson (MM) def. Temilope Adelakun/Ari Gerstein (BM) 6-4
 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,6,5,4,2,1)