For the first time in school history, both tennis teams play a final. Number One men’s tennis took home the Atlantic Sun Championship title and Number Three women’s advanced to the final after not even making the tournament in 2024.
The UNA men’s tennis team opened its tournament run with a thrilling 4–3 victory over North Florida in the quarterfinals on Thursday, April 18.
Sophomore Birtan Duran delivered the match-clinching point at line five singles, completing a comeback after UNA dropped the doubles point early.
“Trying not to lose the first game, that was really tough,” said sophomore Alberto Altur. “But then we were so excited to go to the final.”
On Friday, April 19, the Lions faced top-seeded Stetson in the semifinals. Despite being underdogs, UNA played with confidence and urgency, seizing the momentum with a doubles point win.
Freshman Nazar Fedoryshyn and senior Satoru Nakajima led the way with a 6–3 win at line two doubles. In singles, Duran, Fedoryshyn, and Nakajima each earned crucial wins to lift the Lions to a 4–2 upset and send them to their first-ever ASUN Championship final.
In the title match on Saturday, April 20, UNA took on No. 2 seed Liberty. Though the Lions ultimately fell 4–1, they held their own on the biggest stage of the season.
Duran earned UNA’s lone singles point with a straight-set win at line three. Fedoryshyn and Nakajima also secured a doubles victory, giving the Lions an early spark in the final.
The men’s team finished with a 13–10 overall record and tied for second in the regular-season ASUN standings, capping off one of the most successful seasons in UNA’s Division I history.
On the women’s side, the Lions entered the ASUN Tournament red-hot and quickly backed it up. In their quarterfinal match against No. 6 seed Austin Peay on Wednesday, April 17, UNA fought through several tight battles, ultimately earning a 4–3 win thanks to sophomore Eva Ristola’s three-set clincher at line four singles.
The team then faced No. 2 North Florida in the semifinals and flipped the script from their regular-season loss. Ristola and senior Stanislava Bobrovnikova, named ASUN Doubles Pair of the Year, sealed the doubles point with a 6–4 win.
In singles, Mathilde Delaney, Lena Karlovcan, and Ristola notched victories, lifting UNA to a dominant 4–1 win and a historic spot in the ASUN final.
The championship match on Friday, April 19, featured a fierce clash with No. 1 seed Stetson. Despite falling 2-4, UNA pushed the Hatters to the brink — five of six singles matches went to a third set. Delaney and Karlovcan once again delivered standout performances, winning both their doubles match and a singles point.
The women’s team wrapped up the season with a program-best 17–7 record in the Division I era. Head Coach Olaya Garrido-Rivas was named ASUN Coach of the Year, marking a historic campaign for the program.
With core players like Duran, Fedoryshyn, Ristola, and Karlovcan set to return, both UNA tennis programs are poised to build on this success. The Lions have firmly established themselves among the ASUN’s elite, and with strong leadership and a foundation of resilience, even more historic moments lie ahead.
The men’s tennis team is now set to their first appearance at the NCAA Championship with an automatic bid. They will find out their first opponent on April 28.
“We know the [NCAA Championship] is gonna be tough because we’re gonna get some really tough opponents. Some top 20 and top 30 schools,” Altur said. “We are 100 percent gonna practice now for two weeks to try to get the first round and try to enjoy it. I think that’s the key to win.”
