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Top seeds get strong wins in the semifinals
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 1 seed ETSU and No. 2 seed Samford advanced out of the semifinals of the 2026 Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Championship on Friday. Saturday’s championship title dual, which is being contested at the Champions Club, is set for 1 p.m.
After being upset in the semifinals a year ago ended a run of five straight titles, ETSU returns to the championship round. Samford, the defending champion, is going for its fourth SoCon tournament crown.
No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 4 Mercer 0
In doubles, the duos for Peter Kalocsai/Arenui Luethi and Juan Listo/James Sim earned victories on court two and three, respectively, giving the Bucs the doubles point.
Listo won his singles match at the No. 6 spot, 6-1, 6-2, giving ETSU a 2-0 lead. The Bucs’ No. 3 player Kai Cowcher picked up a 6-3, 6-3 victory, before Carlos Gonzales clinched the victory for ETSU with a 6-1, 6-3, triumph at the No. 5 position.
Singles competition
1. Oscar Martinez (ETSU) vs. Hod’Abalo Isak Padio (MER) 7-6 (7-4), 3-3, unfinished
2. Martin Vergara (ETSU) vs. Nemanja Stefanovic (MER) 6-3, 3-6, unfinished
3. Kai Cowcher (ETSU) def. Shingo Masuda (MER) 6-3, 6-3
4. Arenui Luethi (ETSU) def. Amen Prince Gandonou (MER) 4-6, 2-6, unfinished
5. Carlos Gonzales (ETSU) def. Alex Aldaz (MER) 6-1, 6-3
6. Juan Listo (ETSU) def. Howell Burns (MER) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Oscar Martinez/Martin Vergara (ETSU) vs. Nemanja Stefanovic/Hod’Abalo Isak Padio (MER) 4-3, unfinished
2. Peter Kalocsai/Arenui Luethi (ETSU) def. Amen Prince Gandonou/Shingo Masuda (MER) 6-2
3. Juan Listo/James Sim (ETSU) def. Howell Burns/Cameron Douthit (MER) 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3) Singles (6,3,5)
*****
No. 2 Samford 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 0
Samford’s Lukas Dvorak and Cooper Errey got a 6-1 victory in the No. 3 spot, before the first-team all-conference tandem of Darcy Nicholls and Sandeep Mohandoss, won by a score of 6-4 on court one, clinching the doubles point for the No. 2 seed.
Nicholls was the first Bulldog to win during singles play, taking his matchup at the No. 2 spot by a score of 6-0, 6-3. Errey was victorious at No. 6, winning 6-4, 6-2. Samford secured its spot in the finals after Sebastian Harrison won his matchup on court three, 6-3, 6-4.
Singles competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss (SAM) vs. Jakub Jupa (UTC) 3-6, 5-3, unfinished
2. Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. Julian Franzmann (UTC) 6-0, 6-3
3. Sebastian Harrison (SAM) def. Martin Delnido (UTC) 6-3, 6-4
4. Santiago Arrendondo (SAM) vs. Cortland Grove (UTC) 6-2, 3-6, unfinished
5. Lukas Dvorak (SAM) vs. Kristof Kincses (UTC) 7-6 (7-4), 4-3, unfinished
6. Cooper Errey (SAM) def. TJ Ryerson (UTC) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss/Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. Jakub Jupa/Cortland Grove (UTC) 6-4
2. Sebastian Harrison/Vitorio Sardinha (SAM) vs. Julian Franzmann/Kristof Kincses (UTC) 4-2, unfinished
3. Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey (SAM) def. Jaxon Lamb/Carter Ramthun (UTC) 6-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1) Singles (2,6,3)
*****
2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16
Match 1: No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 8 The Citadel 0
Match 2: No. 4 Mercer 4, No. 5 Furman 1
Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 3
Match 4: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 7 Wofford 0
Friday, April 17
Match 5: No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 4 Mercer 0
Match 6: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 0
Saturday, April 18
Match 7: No. 1 ETSU vs. No. 2 Samford, 1 p.m.
-www.SoConSports.com-
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