FORT MYERS, Fla. — Stetson University (12-6) battled past North Alabama (14-8) with a thrilling 4-3 victory on Friday at the FGCU Tennis Complex in the ASUN Championship Semifinals. The win sends the Hatters to the finals for the third consecutive season.
Stetson claimed the early advantage by securing the doubles point with wins on courts three and one. Xavier Sarda Marti and Marc Saura opened the scoring with a 6-4 victory over Lachlan Brain and Samuel Balfour at No. 3 doubles. Kartik Mandla and Alexandre Verlaguet followed with a 6-3 win at No. 1 over Alberto Altur and Izan Orgiles to clinch the point. North Alabama picked up a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles, but it was not enough to prevent Stetson from taking the early lead.
In singles, North Alabama evened the match with a win at No. 5, but the Hatters responded quickly. Santiago Padilla Cote delivered a strong performance at No. 4 singles, earning a 7-6(1), 6-1 victory over Alex Despoja. Sarda Marti added another point at No. 3 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Orgiles, giving Stetson a 3-1 advantage.
The Lions fought back to tie the match at 3-3 with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 singles, setting up a decisive battle on the top court.
With the match on the line, Alexandre Verlaguet rose to the occasion at No. 1 singles, defeating Brain in a three-set battle, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, to clinch the victory for the Hatters.
The win not only secures Stetson's place in the ASUN Championship final, but also avenges last season's loss to North Alabama in the title match.
DOUBLES
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Kartik Mandla/Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) def. Alberto Altur/Izan Orgiles (UNA) 6-3
Alex Despoja/Satoru Nakajima (UNA) def. Christian Kuehne/Santia Padilla Cote (STET) 6-2
Xavier Sarda Marti/Marc Saura (STET) def. Lachlan Brain/Samuel Balfour (UNA) 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
SINGLES
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Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) def. Lachlan Brain (UNA) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Alberto Altur (UNA) def. Christian Kuehne (STET) 7-6(3), 6-4
Xavier Sarda Marti (STET) def. Izan Orgiles (UNA) 7-5, 6-2
Santia Padilla Cote (STET) def. Alex Despoja (UNA) 7-6(1), 6-1
Samuel Balfour (UNA) def. Marc Saura (STET) 6-2, 6-1
Satoru Nakajima (UNA) def. James Lorrenzetti (STET) 7-6(5), 7-6(4)
Order of finish: 5, 3, 4, 2, 6, 1
WORDS FROM COACH
"I'm very proud of getting the win today over the defending champs," said John Shade. "Our team is resilient and we came through in some tough moments in both doubles and singles. A special shout out to Alex with the match clinching victory."
NEXT UP
The Hatters will return to action in Fort Myers tomorrow morning at 9 AM for the ASUN Championship Final against the top-seeded North Florida Ospreys. Live stats could be found on the schedule page of the GoHatters.com website.
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.
