COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite a strong effort and a pair of first-set wins in singles play, the Belmont University men's tennis team's 2025 season drew to a close Saturday morning at Ohio State University's Ty Tucker Tennis Center. The Bruins, who earned a regional No. 3 seed for the first time in program history, were defeated 4-0 by 31st-ranked Auburn in the opening match of the Columbus Regional in the first round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championship.
The Tigers, the regional's No. 2 seed, came back at No. 3 doubles to take the doubles point and a 1-0 lead in the match before winning in straight sets at No. 3-5 singles.
With pouring rain blanketing the Columbus, Ohio, area, the NCAA Championship match was played indoors.
The doubles duo of junior Eli Mizerski and senior Diego Castro jumped out to a 4-0 lead at third doubles, but Auburn's Jake Kennedy and Hamza Nasridinov were able to rattle off six consecutive games to clinch the pivotal doubles point. At No. 1 doubles, the Tigers' nationally-ranked tandem of Will Nolan and Alex Frusina topped sophomore Stefan Vedovelli and freshman Esteban Ortiz 6-2.
Junior Esunge Ndumbe and freshman Charlie Robin trailed Auburn's Billy Blaydes and Joey Phillips 5-4 at second doubles.
In singles action, both Robin and fellow freshman Morgan Woodson won opening sets at No. 2 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Taking on the Tigers' Frusina, who is ranked 68th in the nation, at the second spot, Robin won the first set 6-4 and was tied at 2-2 in the second when the match was called. Likewise at the sixth position, Woodson led Auburn's Phillips 6-4, 2-2 when the final team point was won.
The Tigers (20-10) secured the victory at No. 3 singles with a 6-1, 6-3 win by Blaydes over Castro.
Auburn's Nasridinov made it 3-0 with an identical 6-1, 6-3 win at the fourth spot against Vedovelli and the Tigers' Nicholas Heng bested Mizerski 6-0, 6-2 on court five.
At the top of the singles lineup, Ndumbe trailed Auburn's Nolan 6-2, 5-2.
Of Note
- After winning its second Horizon League Championship title in three years, Belmont completes its season 13-11.
- The Bruins were playing in their third NCAA Championship in five seasons.
- Saturday was Belmont's first neutral-site match in the NCAA Championship.
- Castro finishes his career as a Bruin with three trips to the NCAA Championship.
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