DELAND, Fla. (March 27, 2026) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team held strong on the road against Stetson en route to a 4-3 victory Friday afternoon in DeLand, Fla.
North Alabama (10-8) moved to 4-0 this season vs. Atlantic Sun Conference opponents in a rematch of the 2025 ASUN Tournament Championship dual. Just like the tournament win, the Lions started with the doubles point after claiming two of the three courts. Senior Lachlan Brain and sophomore Samu Dominguez needed to win by two from their respective flight but won to give UNA the one-point advantage.
The teams played to a 3-3 tie through five completed singles, but sophomore Satoru Nakajima played the hero once again against the Hatters. His sixth-flight victory in three sets provided the Lions the winning point and helped UNA cap the away trip on a winning note. Last year, Nakajima was the ASUN Tournament MVP with a 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win to clinch the tournament championship.
Brain and Dominguez added their fifth win this season together along with top-flight duo Alberto Altur and Izan Orgiles. Altur doubled in singles with his 10th victory of the season. Junior Alex Despoja and Nakajima both totaled their fifth win in singles play.
Altur and Orgiles started strong in doubles for a 6-2 win from court one over Kartik Mandla and Alexandre Verlaguet. Stetson responded with a win from court two in doubles, but Brain and Dominguez secured the doubles point with a 7-5 victory over Xavier Sarda Marti and James Lorenzetti.
Stetson took the first singles match from court three before Despoja defeated Lorenzetti from court four, 6-3, 6-3. The Hatters claimed the next match from court one, but UNA matched it with Altur's 6-4, 6-4 win from court two over Christian Kuehne. Stetson earned its third team point from court five, setting up the decider between Nakajima and Mihnea Maftei.
Nakajima struck first with a 6-1 win in the opening frame, but Maftei responded in the second with a 6-3 win. Nakajima roared back in the third with a 6-3 triumph for the winning UNA point.
North Alabama 4, Stetson 3
Doubles
1. Alberto Altur/Izan Orgiles (UNA) def. Kartik Mandla/Alexandre Verlaguet (STET), 6-2
2. Christian Kuehne/Santia Padilla Cote (STET) def. Alex Despoja/Satoru Nakajima (UNA), 6-3
3. Lachlan Brain/Samu Dominguez (UNA) def. Xavier Sarda Marti/James Lorenzetti (STET), 7-5
Singles
1. Alexandre Verlaguet (STET) def. Lachlan Brain (UNA), 6-3, 6-1
2. Alberto Altur (UNA) def. Christian Kuehne (STET), 6-4, 6-4
3. Xavier Sarda Marti (STET) def. Izan Orgiles (UNA), 6-2, 6-0
4. Alex Despoja (UNA) def. James Lorenzetti (STET), 6-3, 6-3
5. Santia Padilla Cote (STET) def. Samu Dominguez (UNA), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Satoru Nakajima (UNA) def. Mihnea Maftei (STET), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Order of Finish – Doubles: (1,2,3), Singles (3,4,1,2,5,6)
Match Notes
North Alabama: 10-8
Stetson: 10-5
COMING UP NEXT
UNA returns to action on Saturday, April 4 with a home dual vs. Southern Miss from the UNA Tennis Courts. First serve time will be announced closer to match day.
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
