Junior Year (2013-14): Behal recorded a 10-8 overall singles record and 4-2 mark versus league competition, playing primarily in the bottom half of the lineup. He was 5-1 at flight four singles, where he opened the season with wins over Mercer and South Alabama. Behal put together a four-match winning streak mid-season, posing wins over Winthrop, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian, and Georgia Southern. He closed out the season with two three-set wins at flight six, defeating Davidson and Wofford. Behal teamed with Adam Steryous in doubles, and the Paladin duo posted an 11-10 overall record and 5-3 SoCon mark, primarily at flight two. Behal and Steryous recorded an 8-5 victory at flight two versus 68th-ranked Iowa on March 18, leading to Furman’s eventual come-from-behind team victory. Behal was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Sophomore Year (2012-13): Behal registered a 10-12 overall singles mark and 4-6 Southern Conference record, playing in the lower half of the lineup. He started the year with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory at flight five versus Florida A&M before putting together consecutive wins against Presbyterian at flight three and at Alabama at flight four. During the team’s spring break trip, Behal posted a 7-6, 7-5 victory at flight four at #53 Santa Clara. In league play, Behal put together a four-match winning streak mid-season, tallying straight-sets wins over Chattanooga, The Citadel, Appalachian State, and Samford. In the opening round of the league tournament, he played at flight six, topping Appalachian State, 6-4, 6-4. Behal teamed primarily with Tyler Droll in doubles. The duo went 4-5 in SoCon play, playing at flights two and three. They picked up an 8-2 win at flight three at #53 Santa Clara then went on to beat College of Charleston, Chattanooga, The Citadel and Wofford during the regular season. In the opening round of the SoCon Championships, Behal and Droll topped Appalachian State, 8-3, at number three. Behal was named to the Southern Conference Academic All-Conference Team and the SoCon Academic Honor Roll.
Freshman Year (2011-12): Behal notched a 4-17 overall singles mark and 2-5 league record, playing in the middle of the Furman lineup. He posted a 6-2, 6-7(4-7), 1-0 (10-12) win at number three singles at Alabama and beat Presbyterian, 7-6, 6-2, in the number two singles spot. In SoCon action, Behal recorded back-to-back wins over Elon and Appalachian State. He was 7-13 overall and 2-4 versus league opponents in doubles play. Behal teamed with Luke Synn for regular-season wins over Davidson and Elon, then the duo posted an 8-4 victory against UNC Greensboro in the opening round of the Southern Conference Tournament. Behal was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Prep/Personal: Behal, who trained under coaches Mark Elliott and Ryan Haviland, was deemed a 4-Star recruit by www.TennisRecruiting.net and achieved a ranking of 62nd nationally. He was among the top 15 recruits in the South after posting a 44-24 record versus ranked recruits, including a 15-4 record against 4-Star recruits and a 10-1 mark versus 3-Star foes. As a freshman at Mauldin, Behal was chosen team MVP after being selected to the all-region and all-state teams. Jacob James Behal was born on July 10, 1993 in Binghamton, N.Y., to Dan and Carol Behal. He intends to major in business and accounting.
