DeLAND, Fla. — Fresh off capturing the program's first ASUN Championship, Stetson Men's Tennis is headed to the NCAA Tournament and will face Florida in the opening round at the NCAA Orlando Regional, hosted by No. 16 UCF.
First and second round action is set for Friday, May 1-Saturday, May 2 at the UCF Tennis Complex. Host UCF will face South Carolina State on the opposite side of the regional bracket, while the Hatters will take on the Gators for a spot in the second round.
Stetson enters the NCAA Tournament at 13-6 after a historic spring that saw the Hatters win their first ASUN title in program history. The championship run included a 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Lipscomb, a dramatic 4-3 semifinal triumph over North Alabama, and a 4-3 win over top-seeded North Florida in the title match, with Christian Kuehne clinching the championship point to earn ASUN Tournament MVP honors.
The Hatters placed three players on the ASUN postseason all-tournament teams, led by All-Tournament selections Alexandre Verlaguet and Xavier Sarda Marti alongside tournament MVP Kuehne. Stetson also earned major postseason recognition with Verlaguet garnering All-ASUN First Team honors, while Sarda Marti was named to the All-ASUN Second Team.
Stetson's NCAA berth marks the latest milestone in a season that included six straight wins midseason, a 9-2 home record and the breakthrough conference championship after consecutive runner-up finishes in the ASUN Tournament.
"We're honored to be in the 2026 NCAA Tournament," said Associate Head Coach John Shade. "It's the culmination of a very fruitful year. This team really came together, banded together and overcame a lot. I'm proud to be part of a group that has done everything for one another. We're excited for the opportunity to play a program as storied as Florida and to compete in Orlando with the chance to have so many of our alumni and supporters there with us."
Shade also reflected on the significance of the postseason run in his first season with the program.
"It's been surreal," Shade said. "All credit goes to the team. I've been supported by Travis Sandlant and our players from day one. To come in and be part of a team that made history by winning a conference championship is incredibly humbling. I couldn't be happier for our seniors, especially the ones who have been through tough losses in past championship matches and finally got to break through."
Should Stetson advance, the Hatters would face the winner of UCF and South Carolina State in the second round.
The winners of each regional advance to the NCAA Super Regionals, scheduled for May 8-9, with the NCAA Championships set for May 14-17 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia.
NCAA Championship Schedule
First/Second Rounds — May 1-2
Super Regionals — May 8-9
Quarterfinals — May 14
Semifinals — May 16
National Championship — May 17
For updates throughout NCAA Tournament play, follow Stetson Men's Tennis on social media and visit GoHatters.com.
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.
