Tennis player Trey Mallory received huge plaudits for celebrating his 22nd birthday in remarkable fashion by guiding the University of North Carolina Wilmington to the semi-finals of the Coastal Athletic Association Championships.

Mallory was highly praised by Seahawks head coach Mait DuBois after winning two matches to give UNCW, the defending champions, a 4-0 triumph over the College of Charleston at the Mackesy Tennis Centre in Williamsburg, Virginia, on Friday.

“Today was another solid performance for Trey in helping us advance to the semi-finals,’’ DuBois told The Royal Gazette.

“He was first one off in doubles and clinched the deciding match for us in singles. It was a very fitting day for Trey on his birthday.”

The Bermudian first combined with Gabe Hurtado to win 6-1 in the doubles against Brolin Dorsey and Zac Larke.

In his singles match against Rojas Mora, the birthday boy took the first set 6-1 before the Ecuadorean clinched the second by the same score. But Mallory was not going to allow his opponent to ruin his day as he won the third set 6-3 to send UNCW to the semi-finals.

“I’m glad to win for the team,’’ Mallory said. “I started the singles match well and then had a shaky second set, so I was then solely focused on the third set.

“I got my rhythm back and started to play better and got the win. I didn’t want to lose especially on my birthday.”

Waiting for the top-seeded Seahawks in the semi-finals are William & Mary, with the two teams to clash on Saturday afternoon.

The final is on Sunday, with UNCW eyeing a fourth consecutive CAA men’s tennis title, which would automatically secure a ticket to the National Collegiate Athletics Association Men’s Tennis Championship, the pinnacle of the sport at college level in the United States.

“Trey has been a superstar for us all year in both singles and doubles,’’ DuBois said. ”He is second on our team in total wins this season and has been a huge part of our previous two championships.

“Now that he is an upperclassman, he has also been one of our emotional leaders. Trey has always been a very gifted tennis player but the last six months his game has really matured.

“He has got much stronger with his ability to analyse opponents and execute a successful strategy.”