Gainesville, Fla. — The Stetson men's tennis team continued action at the 2025 ITA Division I Men's Southeast Regional Championships on Thursday at the University of Florida, highlighted by Alexandre Verlaguet advancing in the main draw singles and two Hatter doubles teams earning opening-round wins.
Verlaguet impressed in his main draw debut, defeating Kennesaw State University's Anthony Weingarten 6-2, 6-1 to move on in the singles bracket. Christian Kuehne battled hard in his opening match before falling to University of South Florida's Agustin Cuellar in three sets, 4-6, 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles play, Stetson picked up strong wins in the round of 64 as Verlaguet and Kartik Mandla teamed up to defeat University of Central Florida's Luca Hotze and Nicolas Oliveira 8-2, while the duo of Kuehne and Mihnea Maftei earned an 8-4 victory over Kennesaw State University's Dominic Ducariu and Kyvan Rietkerk. Santiago Padilla Cote and Xavier Sarda Marti also competed well, dropping a close 8-5 decision to University of South Florida's Stepan Mruzek and Agustin Cuellar.
The Hatters were later eliminated in the round of 32, with both winning pairs falling to Florida State University opponents. Verlaguet and Mandla lost 8-3 to Jan Sebesta and Justin Lyons, while Kuehne and Maftei fell 8-2 to Azariah Rusher and Mohammad Alkotop.
"Today was the first day for both singles and doubles. We had one key singles victory and had chances in another match to get a win but came up short. I thought transitioning into doubles in the afternoon we did a good job coming out with the right energy. We were able to convert on some key points and come away with two doubles victories. We still have room for improvement overall and are looking forward to tomorrow."
Play will continue Friday in Gainesville as singles and doubles action moves into the later rounds of the tournament.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
