UCLA Wins Big Ten Men’s Tennis Tournament

Photo by Kirk Irwin

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2 seed UCLA made the most of its debut appearance in the Big Ten Conference Men’s Tennis Tournament, downing No. 1 seed Ohio State, 4-3, in the championship match Sunday afternoon. The final was played under sunny, 65-degree conditions at the Auer Tennis Complex. With the win, UCLA receives the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

In a match that featured four lead changes and three ties, UCLA clinched the deciding point at No. 2 singles when Emon van Lobel Sels defeated Alexander Bernard, 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-3. Van Lobel Sels was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and joined on the all-tournament team by Alexander Hoogmartens. UCLA (16-8) also earned single wins at the No. 3 and No. 4 singles flights after taking the doubles point. Four of the six singles matches extended to three sets during the 3-hour and 32-minute match.

The 22nd-ranked Bruin have now won eight straight matches, a streak that followed a 4-0 loss to Ohio State April 4 in Columbus.

Sixth-ranked Ohio State (26-3) suffered its first loss since Valentine’s Day and saw its 75-match home win streak (dating to 2021) come to an end. OSU had won the last two Big Ten tournaments and was making its 21st-straight appearance in the finals. Ohio State’s Bryce Nakashima and Preston Stearns were named to the all-tournament team.

The Big Ten will find out how many of its teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Monday at 5:30 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.

Tournament Most Outstanding Player:
Emon van Loben Sels, So., UCLA

All-Tournament Team:
Matthew Forbes, Fr., Michigan State
Bryce Nakashima, So., Ohio State
Preston Stearns, So., Ohio State
Alexander Hoogmartens, Sr., UCLA
Emon van Loben Sels, So., UCLA
Cesar Bouchelaghem, Sr., Washington