Mobile, AL – After several days of intense competition, the 2026 NAIA Tennis Team National Champions have been crowned with Georgia Gwinnett College (men) and Keiser University (women) both taking home titles.
Both entering the championship as the top-seeded teams in the tournament, the two championship teams combined for a 49-1 record this season with the Grizzlies of Georgia Gwinnett finishing a perfect 25-0 on the year.
Starting with the men’s championship, the Grizzlies faced off against Tennessee Wesleyan who entered the tournament as the No. 2 seeded team in the draw. In doubles, the two teams split the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles courts turning all attention to doubles court No. 2 to determine who would head into singles with the one point advantage. Tied at 4-4, the Grizzlies won a break point deuce point to go ahead 5-4 before holding serve to clinch the doubles point.
In singles, Georgia Gwinnett continued to roll earning wins at the No. 1, No. 3, and No. 6 singles positions in straight sets. With the 4-0 sweep, the Gizzlies claimed their 11th NAIA National Championship in the past 12 years and capped off their 10th undefeated season in program history. For first year head coach Tom Rees, this year capped off a remarkable first season at the helm of one of the most prestigious programs in NAIA tennis.
On the women’s side of play, Keiser claimed the national title as they came out with a 4-1 win over No. 2 Lindsey Wilson. The title marked the first in program history as Keiser University, with the institution winning one other title back in 2003 when they competed as Northwood.
After losing the doubles point, the Seahawks bounced back quickly in singles, leading on their experienced players at the top of the lineup. Going straight down the lineup, Keiser won in straight sets at the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 singles positions to claim the Red Banner. Following the match, Violet Apisah was named the Marvin P. Richmond Outstanding Performer and head coach Daniel Finn was named NAIA Coach of the Year.
Year-end ITA NAIA Rankings will be published May 21st so fans can see where their favorite teams and players end at the conclusion of the 2025-26 college tennis season.
