FLORENCE, Ala. (March 30, 2025) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team was victorious from the UNA Tennis Courts on Sunday, defeating the FGCU Eagles, 4-1, in Atlantic Sun Conference play in Florence.
The Lions concluded the weekend a perfect 2-0 in home duals, also extending their home record to 8-0 with the win. North Alabama overcame a slow start in doubles play, roaring back in singles with four-straight victories to take its second all-time win over the Eagles.
The matchup was played to clinch due to a rain delay during the women's dual, causing the start time to be push back to 6:30 p.m.
North Alabama won its eighth dual in a row with the victory, improving to 14-3 on the season and 5-0 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. FGCU fell to 9-13 on the year while 3-2 in conference play.
Junior Lachlan Brain, sophomore Birtan Duran and the freshman tandem of Satoru Nakajima and Samu Dominguez all were victorious from their respective singles flights. Brain won for the eighth time this season, while Duran secured his team-leading 11th singles win. Dominguez held strong en route to his seventh triumph of the year while Nakajima's clinching win marked the 10th victory of the season.
The Eagles struck first with the doubles point, opening with victories from the top two courts. FGCU's Guglielmo Stefanacci and Pablo Paternostro defeated Duran and Nakajima, 6-2, while the Eagles' Hugo Magnusson and Jonathan Baron claimed a 6-4 win over sophomores Alberto Altur and Izan Orgiles.
In singles, the Lions answered back with a court six victory as Dominguez defeated Christopher Smith, 6-4, 6-2. Duran rolled on to UNA's second team point, avenging his doubles defeat to Paternostro with a 6-4, 6-4 singles win.
The third point came courtesy of court one, with Brain earning a top-flight triumph over Hugo Magnusson, 6-3, 6-2. The clinching win came from court five, with UNA's Nakajima facing FGCU's Ninad Raut.
Raut opened with a victory in the first set, claiming the frame with a 7-5 win. Nakajima responded with a second-set win as the freshman blanked Raut, 6-0. The final set led to another strong display by Nakajima, who rolled to a 6-2 win to conclude the night from Florence.
North Alabama 4, FGCU 1
Doubles
1. Hugo Magnusson/Jonathan Baron (FGCU) def. Alberto Altur/Izan Orgiles (UNA), 6-4
2. Guglielmo Stefanacci/Pablo Paternostro (FGCU) def. Birtan Duran/Satoru Nakajima (UNA), 6-2
3. Lachlan Brain/Samu Dominguez (UNA) vs. Harry Michalowski/Stavros Hadjivarnava (FGCU), 5-5, unfinished
Order of Finish: (2,1)
Singles
1. Lachlan Brain (UNA) def. Hugo Magnusson (FGCU), 6-3, 6-2
2. Izan Orgiles (UNA) vs. Jonathan Baron (FGCU), 6-3, 1-6, 5-4, unfinished
3. Alberto Altur (UNA) vs. Guglielmo Stefanacci (FGCU), 6-3, 1-6, 5-5, unfinished
4. Birtan Duran (UNA) def. Pablo Paternostro (FGCU), 6-4, 6-4
5. Satoru Nakajima (UNA) def. Ninad Raut (FGCU), 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
6. Samu Dominguez (UNA) def. Christopher Smith (FGCU), 6-4, 6-2
Order of Finish: (6,4,1,5)
Match Notes
North Alabama: 14-3
FGCU: 9-13
COMING UP NEXT
The Lions are set for their final road trip of the regular season, starting in Richmond, Ky. on April 4 to face EKU at 2 p.m.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
