SoCal’s Dominance at the 2025 NCAA Division I
Conference Tennis Championships

From the Big Ten to the Big West, Mountain West, and West Coast Conference, Southern California teams made a powerful impact on the 2025 collegiate tennis scene. Whether it was UCLA’s historic Big Ten title, UC Irvine’s comeback in the Big West, or San Diego State’s grit in the Mountain West, SoCal tennis stood tall. Let’s take a look at how these teams performed across the country.

Big Ten Men’s Tennis Championships

The 2025 Big Ten Men’s Tennis Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, was packed with drama, upsets, and a little bit of SoCal magic. When the dust settled, it was the UCLA Bruins who stood tallest.

Early rounds saw No. 8 seed Illinois and No. 7 seed Michigan power past No. 9 seed Oregon and No. 10 seed Northwestern. But Friday brought the fireworks. Rain forced play indoors, but the Southern California squads brought the energy.

In their Big Ten Tournament debut, No. 2 UCLA cruised past Michigan 4-1 behind dominant play from Spencer Johnson (Ladera Ranch) and company. No. 6 University of Southern California (USC) battled hard against No. 3 Michigan State, but fell 4-2 in a tough quarterfinal.

Saturday set up a marquee championship clash. Top-seeded Ohio State and UCLA rolled through their semifinals, with the Bruins dismantling Michigan State 4-0 in just over two hours. Alexander Hoogmartens and the Bruins looked locked in.

Sunday’s final was a showdown for the ages. Facing an Ohio State team riding a 76-match home win streak and back-to-back Big Ten titles, UCLA showed no fear. The 4-3 battle featured four lead changes, three ties, and nonstop tension over three-and-a-half hours.

UCLA grabbed the doubles point early and gutted out huge wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles. With the title hanging on the line, it all came down to sophomore Emon van Loben Sels, who battled through a three-set thriller at No. 2 singles to clinch the 4-3 win, and a place in Bruin history.

“I think this match against Ohio State definitely gives us a huge confidence boost going into the National Championships,” explained Von Loben Sels. “I’m just excited to battle it out one last time with this team to cap off my sophomore year.”

Fittingly, Van Loben Sels was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, while standout senior Hoogmartens also earned All-Tournament Team honors. 

“It was an honor to be given those awards as well as being able to clinch the title for my team,” exclaimed Von Loben Sels. “It was a huge team effort from the guys and we believed in each other that we could accomplish such things. I would’ve never expected to be able to come this far, especially from where I was at a year ago, so I’m definitely very happy with my progression.”

For Ohio State, San Diego native Bryce Nakashima continued to shine, earning All-Tournament Team honors and helping push the Bruins to the brink.

In the end, it was a perfect SoCal story: UCLA captured the Big Ten title in their first year in the conference, snapped Ohio State’s epic home streak, and punched their NCAA Tournament ticket in unforgettable fashion. The Bruins have now won eight straight, and they’re just getting started. Big Ten, meet SoCal tennis. The Bruins have officially arrived.

Big Ten Women’s Tennis Championships

Southern California’s tennis talent was on full display as the Big Ten Women’s Tennis Tournament took over Libbey Park in Ojai, a venue steeped in SoCal tennis history. While the field featured top programs from across the country, Southern California ties stood out, especially through No. 4 seed UCLA and No. 6 seed USC.

In Thursday’s quarterfinal, UCLA faced No. 5 seed Wisconsin in their second meeting of the season. Olivia Center (South Pasadena) clinched the match in three sets, with additional singles wins by Torrance’s Kimmi Hance (Torrance) and Elise Wagle. In doubles, Hance and Wagle surged early on court 1 but fell 6-4 to Ariel Johnson and Maria Sholokhova. UCLA struck back on court 2, as Center and Kate Fakih (South Pasadena) earned a 6-4 win over Taylor Cataldi (Corona) and Ellison Reynoldson. On court 3, after trailing early, Ahmani Guichard and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (Irvine) rallied to win 7-5, clinching the point. With a 1-0 lead, the Bruins took four first sets in singles. Hance blanked Cataldi in the first, then closed out her fifth straight win, 6-0, 7-5. Wisconsin’s Rangan countered with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Guichard, but Wagle responded, downing Ivanova 6-3, 6-3 for her seventh straight victory. With remaining matches in third sets, Center clinched again for UCLA, defeating Reynoldson 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on court 6.

The Bruins advanced to face top-seeded Michigan in Friday’s semifinals, where they fell 4-1.

USC also reached the quarterfinals, falling 4-1 to Washington. The Trojans dropped to 16-7 overall, while the No. 3 seed Huskies improved to 20-3 and moved on.

USC took the doubles point with wins from Jana Hossam and Sloane Morra 6-3 on court 2 and Grace Piper and Lily Fairclough, who rallied from 2-5 down to win 7-6(5) on court 1 against Alexia Jacobs and Reece Carter.

Washington swept singles, with USC’s Emma Charney, Fairclough, Morra, and Hossam all falling on their courts.

Both SoCal teams made strong impressions, reinforcing the region’s depth of talent. Though neither reached the final, their performances upheld Southern California’s proud tennis legacy at this prestigious event.

In the final, No. 2 seed Ohio State outlasted Michigan 4-3 in a dramatic battle under the lights that stretched over three and a half hours. Freshman Nao Nishino sealed the win with a 6-4 third set over Michigan’s Emily Sartz-Lunde, earning Ohio State its fourth Big Ten Tournament title and an automatic NCAA berth. 

Big West Men’s Tennis Championships

The 2025 Big West Men’s Tennis Championships wrapped up in thrilling fashion at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed after a perfect 6-0 conference record, while UC Irvine (UCI) came in as the No. 2 seed. The seven-team tournament kicked off with first-round matches where UC Irvine, No. 3 seed UC Davis, and No. 4 seed UC San Diego (UCSD) all advanced to the semifinals, knocking out No. 5 seed Cal Poly, No. 6 seed Hawai’i, and No. 7 seed UC Riverside (UCR). In the semis, the Gauchos made quick work of UCSD with a 4-0 sweep, while UC Irvine mounted an impressive comeback to defeat UC Davis 4-3, setting up a familiar championship clash between UCSB and UCI for the fourth straight year.

The final was another thrilling battle between the Big West’s perennial powerhouses. UCSB struck first, capturing the doubles point with victories on the No. 1 and No. 3 courts. At the top spot, Gianluca Brunkow, a Topanga native, and Lucca Liu powered past UCI’s Andy Nguyen (Long Beach) and Noah Zamora (San Diego), 6-2. Last fall, Zamora became the first Anteater to qualify for the NCAA tournament as an individual since 2011. On court 3, UCSB’s Diogo Morais teamed up with Charlie Underwood to defeat UCI’s Max Fardanesh and Rithvik Krishna (Irvine), 6-4. The Gauchos extended their advantage with a quick singles win from Morais, but the Anteaters refused to fold, storming back with three straight singles victories to surge ahead 3-2. After UCSB’s Freshman Matei Gavrea tied the score at 3-3 with a straight-sets win, it all came down to the top court.The deciding match fittingly came down to two senior SoCal natives. Zamora, who grew up playing on the Barnes Tennis Center courts at Steve Adamson’s Academy, completed a gritty comeback to defeat UCSB’s Brunkow. With a lifetime of memories at Barnes behind him and a championship on the line, Zamora rallied from a set down to earn a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory, sealing a dramatic 4-3 win for the Anteaters.

“It was truly an honor to clinch the win for my teammates, coaches, and everyone who has supported us throughout the season. Without their unwavering support and guidance, none of this would have been possible,” stated Zamora. “I’m incredibly grateful to represent all their hard work and dedication on the biggest stage. I’m really looking forward to the trip back down to San Diego — our team always seems to perform well there! I’m excited to see what we can accomplish against a world class team, and I’m sure we will surprise a ton of people.”

With the victory, UCI captured its second consecutive Big West Men’s Tennis Championship and third title in the last four years, bringing their program total to six conference championships. The Anteaters earned The Big West’s automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.

Big West Women’s Tennis Championships

The 2025 Big West Women’s Tennis Championship, also held at Barnes, featured 10 teams, with top-seeded UCSB as regular season champions (9-0 conference record) and No. 2 seed Cal Poly advancing directly to the semifinals.

No. 3 seed Hawai’i swept No. 10 UCR 4-0, with Sheena Masuda and Peppi Ramstedt defeating UCR’s Kei Kato (Aliso Viejo) and Ramey Yu 6-4, and SoCal natives Hannah Galindo (Los Angeles) and Makeilah Nepomuceno (Rosemead) beating UCR’s Chloe Vu (Tustin) and Sam Condevillamar (Camarillo) 6-3. Hawai’i’s Joelle Lanz, Ramstedt, and Nikola Homolkova completed the win. No. 6 CSUN edged No. 7 Cal State Fullerton 4-3, with Elena Moratalla Sanz clinching the win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 over Milena Geovrgyan. No. 8 UC Davis upset No. 5 UC San Diego 4-1, securing the doubles point and singles wins from Polina Marakhatanova, Maya Youssef (Irvine), and Solia Valentine. No. 4 Long Beach State (LBSU) defeated No. 9 UCI, taking the doubles point with wins from SoCal natives Cecilia Costa (Redondo Beach) and Paulina Franco (Fullerton). Costa clinched with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (2) win.

In the second round, Hawai’i triumphed over CSUN 4-2, while LBSU cruised to a dominant sweep of UC Davis.

UCSB put on a show in the semifinals, securing a 4-0 sweep of LBSU. Straight-set wins from Marie Weissheim, Emma Tutoveanu, and Raphaelle Leroux sealed the victory for the Gauchos. On the other side, Cal Poly earned a gritty win over Hawai’i, fueled by key singles wins from Natalie Lynch (Corona), Jessica MacCallum (Laguna Beach), and Romane Mosse.

Championship Sunday delivered a thrilling showdown between top seeds UCSB and Cal Poly. The Mustangs grabbed a 1-0 lead with doubles wins from Peyton Dunkle (Arroyo Grande) — who recently broke Cal Poly’s 17-year-old record for career wins with her 52nd victory — and Amy Leather, and MacCallum and Lynch. UCSB responded with three straight singles victories from Amelia Honer, Leroux, and Weissheim. After Cal Poly’s MacCallum pulled one back, Tyra Richardson clinched the title for the Gauchos with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 comeback. UCSB’s 4-2 victory marked their 11th Big West title, securing an automatic NCAA bid.

Mountain West Men’s Tennis Championships

San Diego State (SDSU) men’s tennis ended its 2025 season with a 4-1 loss to Utah State in the first round of the Mountain West Championships. The Aztecs started strong, winning the doubles point with victories from Liam Spiers and Marc Kleber (6-2) and Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice (San Diego) and Denis Maijorov (6-4). However, the Aggies rallied in singles, winning on courts 1, 2, 4, and 5 to clinch the match.

SDSU’s All-Mountain West doubles duo, Alexander Mandma and Mathieu Josserand, saw their match unfinished at 5-5. In singles, Spiers, Maijorov, and Gonzalez Fitzmaurice all fell in straight sets. Despite the loss, the Aztecs showed resilience.

The tournament concluded with New Mexico defeating top-seeded Boise State 4-0 to capture the 2025 Mountain West title.

Mountain West Women’s Tennis Championships

The 2025 Mountain West Women’s Tennis Championships, held at Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas, featured ten teams alongside Southern California’s own SDSU, the tournament’s No. 1 seed and defending champion. Joining the Aztecs in the field were No. 2 Nevada, No. 3 UNLV, No. 4 Boise State, No. 5 Fresno State, No. 6 San José State, No. 7 Air Force, No. 8 Wyoming, No. 9 Colorado State, No. 10 New Mexico, and No. 11 Utah State.

Coming off titles in both the regular season and conference tournament a year ago, SDSU entered with high expectations. After a commanding 4-0 victory over Wyoming in the quarterfinals, the Aztecs looked poised for another championship run. They came out strong in the semifinals, securing the doubles point with Jo-Yee Chan and Liisa Varul winning 6-3 on court one and All-Mountain West Doubles selection Yasmine Kabbaj and Ninon Martinache claiming victory 6-3. Boise State battled back in singles. Despite strong efforts from SDSU’s Gloria Alogo and Zoe Olmos, the Broncos edged the Aztecs 4-3, clinching the match with a narrow third-set tiebreaker win on court six.

Despite the heartbreaking semifinal exit, SDSU displayed championship-level fight and determination throughout the tournament. Boise State went on to claim the 2025 Mountain West title.

West Coast Conference Men’s Tennis Championships

The 2025 West Coast Conference (WCC) Men’s Tennis Tournament delivered four thrilling days of action at the Aztec Tennis Center on the SDSU campus. With powerhouse programs and hungry challengers in the mix, every point was a battle and every match showcased grit, talent, and heart. Regular season champion University of San Diego (USD) entered as the No. 1 seed, with Pepperdine at No. 2. Rounding out the six-team field were Santa Clara, Pacific, Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and Saint Mary’s.

The tournament roared to life with heart-pounding quarterfinals. No. 4 Pacific and No. 5 LMU battled to the wire, with Pacific’s Christof Schaertlin Coffey clinching a 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5) win on court 6 for a 4-3 Tigers victory. Meanwhile, No. 3 Santa Clara swept No. 6 Saint Mary’s, with Valentin Faure’s three-set singles win sealing the deal. Pacific moved on to face top-seeded USD, while Santa Clara earned a heavyweight semifinal clash against Pepperdine.

The semifinals ramped up the intensity. Pepperdine swept Santa Clara 4-0, seizing the doubles point and dominating singles. Across the draw, USD rolled past Pacific with a 5-0 victory, with Oliver Tarvet and Stian Klaassen clinching simultaneously on courts 1 and 3. The championship was set: USD vs. Pepperdine.

Championship Saturday was an instant classic. Pepperdine grabbed the doubles point with commanding wins on courts 2 and 3, but USD answered back. Klaassen delivered the first singles point, and Tarvet, the nation’s No. 3 player and last year’s USD SoCal Pro Series singles champion, outdueled Pepperdine’s Edward Winter to give USD the lead. Savriyan Danilov completed an epic comeback to put USD one win away. Although Pepperdine’s Lasse Poertner fought back with a three-set win, Neo Niedner clinched the 4-2 victory and another WCC title for USD. With the win, USD claimed their ninth tournament crown in the past decade and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, where their story is far from over!

West Coast Conference Women’s Tennis Championships

The 2025 WCC Women’s Tennis Tournament delivered three exciting days of action at SDSU’s Aztec Tennis Center. Three teams entered the tournament in the top-55 of the ITA rankings. No. 27 Pepperdine, No. 48 USD, and No. 54 Washington State led a competitive field, with the Waves entering as the No. 1 seed and Toreros securing the No. 2 seed after a key regular-season win.

Opening day delivered electric tennis as No. 4 seed LMU surged into the semifinals with a statement 4-1 win over No. 5 seed Gonzaga. After dropping an early doubles match, the Lions roared back, dominating two courts to claim the doubles point and never looking back. Stefania Rogozinska-Dzik was outstanding on the top singles court, and the Lions secured three commanding singles wins to punch their ticket to face top-seeded Pepperdine. Meanwhile, No. 3 seed Washington State handled business against No. 6 seed Portland with a sweep, setting up a highly anticipated clash with USD. With LMU and Pepperdine poised for an all-SoCal semifinal battle, the tournament was already bursting with hometown pride.

Pepperdine showed why it’s the gold standard in WCC women’s tennis, sweeping LMU with ruthless precision. Anastasiia Grechkina and Alexia Harmon set the tone early in doubles, and the Waves kept their foot on the gas with three dominant singles victories, all in straight sets, to book yet another trip to the championship match. On the other side, USD proved its toughness and resilience, battling past Washington State, 4-2. Despite early adversity in singles, the Toreros, led by Southern California’s own Kailey Evans and a gritty team effort, clawed back to clinch their place in Saturday’s title showdown. With Pepperdine and USD ready to square off, it was an all-SoCal final that fans had been dreaming of, and it promised fireworks.

The championship clash between Pepperdine and USD was everything you could hope for: passion, power, and the ultimate display of Southern California tennis excellence. In front of an energized crowd, the Waves struck first, with Savannah Broadus, ranked No. 17 in the nation, delivering a masterclass alongside Vivian Yang in doubles. But the Toreros fought back fiercely, with Evans and Claudia De Las Heras answering the call in doubles and pushing the Waves in singles play. Every point was a battle, every set a test of nerves. In the end, Pepperdine’s depth and experience carried the day, as the Waves captured their 11th consecutive WCC Tournament title, but not without USD making them earn every last point. It was a true showcase of SoCal tennis at its finest: grit, greatness, and a legacy that continues to grow.