DeLAND, Fla. — The Stetson Hatters defeated Brown 4-0 on Tuesday at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center, extending its winning streak to six matches while improving to a perfect 9-0 at home this season. The Hatters secured the doubles point with wins on courts one and two before clinching the match with three singles victories.
Stetson took control early in doubles play. Kartik Mandla and Alexandre Verlaguet earned a 6-4 win at No. 1 over Lukas Phimvongsa and Ivan Sodan, while Christian Kuehne and Santia Padilla Cote clinched the point at No. 2 with a hard-fought 7-6 victory against Zander Bravo and Noah Hernandez. Brown picked up a narrow 7-6 win at No. 3 doubles over Xavier Sarda Marti and James Lorenzetti.
In singles, Mihnea Maftei was first off the court, giving the Hatters a 2-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Bravo at No. 6. Padilla Cote followed with a composed 7-5, 7-5 victory at No. 5 against Elliot Waasserman to push the advantage to 3-0.
Verlaguet delivered the clinching point at No. 1 singles, rallying from a set down to defeat Sodan 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Play was halted on the remaining courts with Stetson leading in all three matches. Kuehne was locked in a tight battle at No. 2, while Sarda Marti and Lorenzetti each held leads in their respective matches.
DOUBLES
Kartik Mandla/Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) def. Lukas Phimvongsa/Ivan Sodan (BU) 6-4
Christian Kuehne/Santia Padilla Cote (STET) def. Zander Bravo/Noah Hernandez (BU) 7-6
Cole Oberg/Elliot Waasserman (BU) def. Xavier Sarda Marti/James Lorenzetti (STET) 7-6
SINGLES
Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) def. Ivan Sodan (BU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Christian Kuehne (STET) vs. Lukas Phimvongsa (BU) 6-4, 6-7 (unfinished)
Xavier Sarda Marti (STET) vs. Noah Hernandez (BU) 6-4, 3-6, 5-4 (unfinished)
James Lorenzetti (STET) vs. Robert Yang (BU) 6-1, 6-7, 2-2 (unfinished)
Santia Padilla Cote (STET) def. Elliot Waasserman (BU) 7-5, 7-5
Mihnea Maftei (STET) def. Zander Bravo (BU) 6-2, 6-3
WORDS FROM COACH
"Overall, that was a really good team win against a tough opponent. We knew the doubles point was going to be important, and the guys did a great job of coming out strong and setting the tone early. In singles, we had to battle, and I was really proud of how we competed across the board and finished matches. Alex's comeback win was especially impressive and showed a lot of toughness."
"Being at home has been a big advantage for us. There's a comfort level playing here, and the energy from the crowd really helps our guys. At the same time, a lot of credit goes to the way we practice and prepare — those sessions are competitive and put us in situations like this where matches come down to the wire. Moving forward, it's about recovery over the next few days, continuing to improve, and getting ready for some important conference matches. We have to stay focused on what we can control, stick together through adversity, and keep finding ways to compete and dig deep as a team."
UP NEXT
The Hatters return home on Friday, March 27 to host the North Alabama Lions for the Hatters' first taste of conference play this season. The match is set for 2:00 PM at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center in DeLand.
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.
