Men’s Full Bracket | Women’s Full Bracket | Men’s Championship Replay | Women’s Championship Replay
Orlando, FL – Two of the blue bloods of Division II men’s and women’s tennis reached the pinnacle of the sport once again this past week as Valdosta State University (men) and Barry University (women) each won titles at the NCAA Division II Tennis Championships at Sanlando Park.
With sixteen of the nation’s top men’s and women’s Division II programs all converging in Orlando, both Barry and Valdosta State had to win four matches over the stretch of five days to claim their respective titles. In the men’s final, Valdosta State squared off with Washburn who were making their first NCAA final appearance, while for the women, it was a rematch of the 2024 NCAA Championship as Barry took on Nova Southeastern.
In the men’s final which featured teams with a combined record of 48-3 on the season, the match marked the first meeting between Valdosta State and Washburn this season as the Blazers entered as the No. 1 seeded team, and unbeaten, while Washburn entered as the No. 7 seeded team.
Beginning with doubles, in which three of the nation’s top ten ranked teams were featured, the Blazers earned a decisive win on court No. 3 from Jan Skerbatis and Boruch Skierkier before Takeshi Taco and Xaveam Van Wijk defeated the No. 1 ranked doubles team in the country to claim the lone point heading into singles.
With three of the nation’s top 20 ranked players, the Blazers had a lot of confidence heading into singles but were met with a strong response from Washburn who wouldn’t let them take the title easy. Claiming two straight set wins on courts No. 2 and No. 5, Washburn took a 2-1 lead with all remaining matches headed to a third set.
Earning wins on courts No. 1 and No. 3, the Blazers now just needed one more victory as Julien Doitteau stepped up to the plate up a break in the third set. Ultimately winning from court No. 6 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, Doitteau clinched back-to-back championships for Valdosta State as they complete the undefeated season going 26-0 across all play.
Moving sights over to the women’s final, it was once again a familiar showdown between Barry and Nova Southeastern who have been conference foes and two of the nation’s top teams for the past few seasons. With Nova getting the better of Barry last year in the finals, the Bucs have responded by beating them twice this season leading into the NCAA Final.
After Barry jumped out ahead with a 6-0 win on court No. 2 doubles, it was Nova Southeastern who ultimately claimed the lone point with two 6-3 wins from court No. 1 and No. 3 leaving them with just three singles points needed to win the match.
In singles, all but one match ended in straight sets as the Sharks took wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions before Barry won from the No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 singles positions to tie the match with just court No. 3 remaining. In a third set, Andrea Di Palma went up a break early and never looked back, ultimately winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 over Sofia Shing to win the championship.
Marking the ninth title in program history for the Bucs, they completed a season in which they went unbeaten against all Division II opponents and claimed two national championships having won the ITA National Team Indoor Championship this past February as well.
Continue reading below for a line-by-line match score from each championship match.
Men’s Championship Match Scores
Singles competition
1. #2 Takeshi Taco (VSU) def. #4 Tim Hammes (WU) 1-6, 6-1, 1-6
2. #8 Vasek Schneider (WU) vs. #3 Boruch Skierkier (VSU) 6-4, 6-4
3. #20 Edgar Destouet (VSU) def. #65 Pavios Parson (WU) 2-6, 6-3, 2-6
4. Tommy Cecchetti (WU) vs. Jerome Iaconi (VSU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-1 (unf)
5. Zino Nahirniak (WU) def. Jan Skerbatis (VSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Julien Doitteau (VSU) def. Matthew Earle (WU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. #5 Takeshi Taco/Xaveam Van Wijk def. #1 Matthew Earle/Tim Hammes 6-4
2. #23 Tommy Cecchetti/Vasek Schneider (WU) vs. #8 Arthur Boyd/Edgar Destouet (VSU) 5-4 (unf)
3. Jan Skerbatis/Boruch Skierkier (VSU) def. Moritz Pieper/Pavlos Parson (WU) 6-2
Women’s Championship Match Scores
Singles competition
1. #3 Kristyna Hranacova (NSU) def #5 Alina Michalitsch (BU) 6-0, 6-4
2. #18 Ita Habekovic (NSU) def #15 Viktoriia Dema (BU) 7-5, 6-3
3. #22 Andrea Di Palma (BU) def Sofia Shing (NSU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
4. Louane Lutringer (BU) def #56 Isabella Ciancaglini (NSU) 6-0, 6-1
5. #52 Dinara Alloiarova (BU) def Noemie Dadoun (NSU) 7-5, 6-4
6. #31 Angela Leweurs (BU) def. Julia Moraes (NSU) 6-4, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #16 Isabella Ciancaglini/Kristyna Hranacova (NSU) def #15 Ailen Crespo/Andrea Di Palma (BU) 6-3
2. #45 Vitoria Dema/Maria Tatarnikova (BU) def Noemie Dadoun/Sofia Shing (NSU) 6-0
3. Ita Habekovic/Julia Moraes (NSU) def. Dinara Alloiarova/Louane Lutringer (BU) 6-3
