DeLAND, Fla. — The Stetson hatters defeated Bucknell 6-1 on Friday at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center. Stetson secured the doubles point with victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions and won five of six singles matches.

Stetson secured the doubles point with victories on courts two and three. The duo of Christian Kuehne and Santia Padilla Cote triumphed at No. 2 doubles with a 6-3 win over Bucknell's Osca Bain Moreno de Vega and Adam Stavrakas. Xavier Sarda Marti and James Lorenzetti clinched the point with a decisive 6-1 result at No. 3 doubles against Nelson Alapi and Will Robinson. Bucknell's Brendan McDonald and Amar Tahirovic managed a 6-4 victory over Kartik Mandla and Alexandre Verlaguet at No. 1 doubles, but it was not enough to take the doubles point.

In singles, Stetson extended its lead with a strong performance. Xavier Sarda Marti opened with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Osca Bain Moreno de Vega at No. 3 singles. Padilla Cote followed with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Robinson at No. 5 singles. Mihnea Maftei added another point for the Hatters by defeating Alapi 6-3, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.

Lorenzetti further solidified Stetson's dominance with a 6-1, 6-2 win over McDonald at No. 4 singles. Bucknell managed to put a point on the board when Liam Kilmer overcame Kuehne 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singles. Verlaguet closed out the match with a tense 7-6, 6-4 victory over Tahirovic at No. 1 singles, sealing a comprehensive win for the Hatters.

DOUBLES  
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Brendan McDonald/Amar Tahirovic (BU) def. Kartik Mandla/Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) 6-4  
Christian Kuehne/Santia Padilla Cote (STET) def. Osca Bain Moreno de Vega/Adam Stavrakas (BU) 6-3  
Xavier Sarda Marti/James Lorenzetti (STET) def. Nelson Alapi/Will Robinson (BU) 6-1  

SINGLES
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Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) def. Amar Tahirovic (BU) 7-6, 6-4  
Liam Kilmer (BU) def. Christian Kuehne (STET) 6-4, 6-2  
Xavier Sarda Marti (STET) def. Osca Bain Moreno de Vega (BU) 6-2, 6-0  
James Lorenzetti (STET) def. Brendan McDonald (BU) 6-1, 6-2  
Santia Padilla Cote (STET) def. Will Robinson (BU) 6-2, 6-0  
Mihnea Maftei (STET) def. Nelson Alapi (BU) 6-3, 6-1  

WORDS FROM COACH
"I was proud of how our team got the victory. Clinching the doubles point and then transitioning over to singles winning the first sets on most courts was key to our team win," said Coach John Shade. "Alex did a good job finishing his match winning some tough key points."

UP NEXT
The Hatters return to the courts on Sunday, March 15, hosting James Madison Dukes men's tennis at 2:00 p.m. at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center as part of International Day in DeLand. With potential inclement weather expected this weekend, fans are encouraged to follow Stetson men's tennis on social media and visit GoHatters.com for schedule updates and behind-the-scenes content leading up to the match.


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.