CHATTANOOGA, TN (May 23, 2026) -- The Tufts University squad had its 2025-26 season come to an end Saturday afternoon in the 2026 NCAA Individual Championships at the McCallie School in Chattanooga.
Tufts had originally had two players in the NCAA Division III Singles' draw and one doubles' squad, but senior
Javier Gonzalez was forced to pull out due to injury. That left just senior
Alex Ganchev in the singles' field, while Ganchev and classmate
Sacha Maes also competed in the doubles draw.
In the round of 32, Ganchev battled Eugene Lee of Vassar College, but was unable to get by the Brewers' No. 1 player as Ganchev dropped a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision in the opening round. The deciding third set was tied at three, but a break by Lee to go up 4-3 was enough to pull away for the win.
In doubles, Ganchev and Maes battled Emory University's Ruilin Feng and Ajay Kartik in the Round of 16 in another three-set thriller. Just like in singles, the Tufts squad picked up the first set as Maes and Ganchev earned a 7-6 (5) victory to take the early lead. Feng and Kartik would take momentum back though, winning the second set 6-2 before earning a 6-4 win in the third to advance.
Tufts finished in the NCAA semifinals for the second straight season, and won the New England Small College Athletic Conference title in 2026.
--JUMBOS--
