DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson University dropped a 4-3 decision to North Alabama on Friday at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center, suffering its first home loss of the season and snapping a six-match winning streak. The Hatters claimed three singles victories but were unable to overcome the early deficit after dropping the doubles point.
North Alabama secured the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. Orgiles and Altur defeated Kartik Mandla and Alexandre Verlaguet 6-2 at No. 1 doubles, while Brain and Balfour Dominguez earned a 7-5 win over Xavier Sarda Marti and James Lorenzetti at No. 3. Stetson picked up a win at No. 2 doubles, as Christian Kuehne and Santia Padilla Cote defeated Despoja and Nakashima 6-3.
The Hatters responded in singles play with strong performances across the lineup. Sarda Marti opened with a dominant 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles, and Lorenzetti followed with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4. Verlaguet then gave Stetson a 3-1 lead with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles.
North Alabama answered with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 singles to even the match. Altur defeated Kuehne 6-4, 6-4, while Nakashima outlasted Mihnea Maftei in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, setting up a decisive final court.
The match came down to No. 5 singles, where Padilla Cote battled through three sets but ultimately fell short, as Balfour Dominguez secured the clinching point for North Alabama to give the Lions the 4-3 victory.
DOUBLES
Orgiles/Altur (UNA) def. Mandla/Verlaguet (STET) 6-2
Kuehne/Padilla Cote (STET) def. Despoja/Nakashima (UNA) 6-3
Brain/Balfour Dominguez (UNA) def. Sarda Marti/Lorenzetti (STET) 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
SINGLES
Verlaguet (STET) def. Brain (UNA) 6-3, 6-1
Altur (UNA) def. Kuehne (STET) 6-4, 6-4
Sarda Marti (STET) def. Orgiles (UNA) 6-2, 6-0
Despoja (UNA) def. Lorenzetti (STET) 6-3, 6-3
Balfour Dominguez (UNA) def. Padilla Cote (STET) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Nakashima (UNA) def. Maftei (STET) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 4, 1, 2, 6, 5
WORDS FROM COACH
"Tough loss today. We had many opportunities to win and came up just short," said
John Shade. "We'll learn from this, improve, and grow together as a team. We now set our focus onto the next match."
UP NEXT
The Hatters return home to the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center as they host the North Florida Ospreys for a match on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM.
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.
