JACKSONVILLE (April 19, 2025) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team made its postseason dreams come true early Saturday afternoon, securing the program's first Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Championship title with a 4-1 win over the Stetson Hatters in Jacksonville, Fla.

This marks UNA's first ASUN postseason championship in any sport. The Lions moved to NCAA Division I in 2018-19 and are in their seventh season of membership, including just the third year of NCAA postseason eligibility.

With an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, UNA will find out its first-round opponent during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, April 28 at 4:30 p.m. UNA will host a watch party at Mugshots in Downtown Florence. The public is invited to attend.

In a battle between the top teams in the conference, the top-seeded Lions engaged in battle versus the No. 2 Hatters for the league's top crown. This marked UNA's first ASUN tournament final appearance.

With the win, UNA completed an undefeated season against conference competition, finishing the regular season and postseason with a 10-0 record.

Against Stetson, the Lions opened with a 2-0 sweep in doubles before taking three of the four completed singles matches. The teams split the first two singles matches before bringing home the hardware with the final two, including the winning match from court four from freshman Satoru Nakajima. Fighting back from a set down, Nakajima settled in with two-straight set wins to clinch the championship for North Alabama.

Four Lions secured victories in the championship effort, led by Nakajima, senior Nazar Fedoryshyn and sophomore Alberto Altur. Nakajima and Altur combined for the second doubles win while Fedoryshyn and sophomore Birtan Duran opened the dual with the first doubles victory. Both Altur and Fedoryshyn tallied key singles wins before Nakajima's championship-clinching point from court four.

The dual began with the Lions' second-straight successful outing in doubles in the tournament. North Alabama secured the first point from Duran and Fedoryshyn, who defeated Eder Blanco and Christian Kuehne from court one, 6-2. Altur and Nakajima followed shortly after with a win from court two, defeating Marc Saura and Lucas Olivier, 6-3.

Altur's momentum from doubles continued in singles play, with the sophomore tallying the first win in a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Hatters' Kuehne from court two. Stetson with answer with a win from court five, but UNA's Fedoryshyn gave the Lions their third team point with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback win versus Sami Ozzor from court six.

With North Alabama holding a 3-1 lead, the Lions would clinch the tournament championship with a hard-fought, three-set battle from court four. He dropped his first set versus Xavier Sarda Marti, 5-7, but the freshman fought back for a strong 6-2 second set to force a deciding third frame.

Playing to a tiebreak, Nakajima held strong to defeat Marti in the third set, 7-6 (7-5) and win the title for the Lions.



North Alabama 4, Stetson 1


Doubles

1. Nazar Fedoryshyn/Birtan Duran (UNA) def. Eder Blanco/Christian Kuehne (STETSON), 6-2
2. Alberto Altur/Satoru Nakajima (UNA) def. Marc Saura/Lucas Olivier (STETSON), 6-3
3. Xavier Sarda Marti/Sami Ozzor (STETSON) vs. Samu Dominguez/Lachlan Brain (UNA), 5-3, unfinished

Order of Finish: (1,2)


Singles

1. Lachlan Brain (UNA) vs. Eder Blanco (STETSON), 6-2, 3-6, 6-6, unfinished
2. Alberto Altur (UNA) def. Christian Kuehne (STETSON), 6-3, 6-2
3. Birtan Duran (UNA) vs. Lucas Olivier (STETSON), 6-3, 5-7, 6-6, unfinished
4. Satoru Nakajima (UNA) def. Xavier Sarda Marti (STETSON), 5-7, 6-2, 7(7)-6(5)
5. Haris Eminefendic (STETSON) def. Samu Dominguez (UNA), 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
6. Nazar Fedoryshyn (UNA) def. Sami Ozzor (STETSON), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

Order of Finish: (2,5,6,4)


Match Notes

North Alabama: 20-3
Stetson: 17-5


COMING UP NEXT

North Alabama awaits the 2025 NCAA DI Tennis Championship Selection Show on April 28, where the full bracket will be revealed for the postseason tournament on NCAA.com.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.