MEDFORD, MA (March 9, 2025) -- The third-ranked Tufts University men's tennis team opened New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) action at Bates College Sunday, earning a 5-2 win over the Bobcats, and then followed that up with a 7-0 win over Endicott College in non-conference play later in the afternoon.
Match 1: Tufts 5, Bates 2
Tufts set the early tone by taking two of the three doubles matches. The pairing of
Lachie Macintosh and
Derin Acaroglu dominated at No. 2 doubles, delivering a convincing 6-3 victory over Evangelo Kapothanasis and Ben Adey. Similarly, the No. 3 duo of
Aarush Ganji and
Sacha Maes came through in a tight battle, edging Eric Diop and Tylan Ozkuzey 6-4 to give the Jumbos a crucial 1-0 advantage heading into singles play with the doubles' win.
The lone setback in doubles came at the top spot, where
Javier Gonzalez and
Vuk Vuksanovic pushed Bates' Phillippe Kosyagin and Theo Sardain to the limit but ultimately fell in a 7-6 (7-4) thriller.
Tufts' singles lineup was relentless, claiming four of the six matches in straight sets. At the top spot, Vuksanovic was nearly flawless in a commanding 6-2, 6-1 win over Kosyagin, reinforcing his status as one of the premier players in the NESCAC.
Not to be outdone, Gonzalez took care of business at No. 2, controlling the tempo in a 6-4, 6-2 win over Sardain. Macintosh followed suit with a steady 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 3, while
Andrej Djokic overwhelmed Alex Park at No. 5, dropping just one game in a dominant 6-1, 6-0 performance.
The two losses in singles came in dramatic fashion. Acaroglu battled back from a first-set deficit at No. 4 to force a deciding third set but fell short in a 10-4 super tiebreaker. Maes also rallied from a set down at No. 6, but Ozkuzey proved clutch in the decisive frame, pulling out a 10-4 win in the breaker.
Match 2: Tufts 7, Endicott 0
The third-ranked Tufts men's tennis team continued their undefeated start to the season with a commanding 7-0 victory over Endicott on Sunday night at the Bass River Tennis Club. The Jumbos (4-0) showed their depth and firepower, sweeping both doubles and singles without dropping a single set.
The Jumbos set the tone early with a flawless doubles performance. At the No. 1 spot, the duo of Stravros Mastrogamvrakis and
Nico Tremblay made a statement, shutting out George Danes and Aaron Terpko 6-0. The second pairing of
Takehiro Shuda and
Davide Mirza followed up with a strong 6-3 win, while
Eren Cheung and
Bhavan Balusu battled to a 7-5 victory at No. 3, securing the early 1-0 lead for Tufts.
Singles play was just as dominant. At the top of the lineup, Mastrogamvrakis overpowered Conrad Kadel 6-3, 6-3, while Tremblay continued his momentum with a 6-0, 6-3 triumph over Danes at No. 2. Shuda fought through a competitive first set before pulling away for a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 3.
Further down the lineup, Tufts flexed its depth as Cheung (6-1, 6-0), Mirza (6-0, 6-0), and
Andrey Ignatyev (6-1, 6-3) each delivered emphatic victories, sealing the sweep. Mirza's double-bagel performance was a highlight, as he refused to drop a game in his match against Eric Scalici.
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Tufts will take on Pomona-Pitzer out in California next Saturday, March 15 at 3 p.m. in the beginning of its Spring Break trip.
--JUMBOS--
