WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — Chicago State University (2-20) fell to Saint Francis (5-16) with a final score of 1-4 on Thursday in the First Round of the 2026 NEC Tennis Tournament at the Mercer County Tennis Courts. The Cougars secured its lone point in singles play at the No. 2 position.
Saint Francis secured the doubles point with victories across all three courts. At No. 1 doubles, Kevin Titus Suresh and Jonah Ng defeated
Yurii Hoida and
Joao Teixeira, 6-2. The No. 2 doubles match concluded with Blake Lorenzo and Beau Welker taking a 6-2 win over
Reed Gahagan and
Andrew Kunaka. Gregory Troyan and Noah Potts won by default at No. 3 doubles.
In singles play,
Joao Teixeira of CSU put the team on the board with a straight-set victory at No. 2 singles, overcoming Blake Lorenzo 6-4, 6-2. However, Saint Francis extended its lead with Mario Beckles' win at No. 4 singles, defeating
Reed Gahagan 6-2, 6-4, and Noah Potts' 7-5, 6-4 triumph at No. 5 singles over
Justin Atkins.
Yurii Hoida battled at No. 1 singles but fell in three sets to Kevin Titus Suresh, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7.
Andrew Kunaka's match at No. 3 singles was left unfinished against Jonah Ng after winning set one and held a lead during the second set, concluding the competition with Saint Francis claiming the overall victory.
Doubles
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Suresh,Kevin Titus/Ng,Jonah (Saint Francis) def. Hoida,Yurii/Teixeira,Joao (Chicago State University) 6-2
Lorenzo,Blake/Welker,Beau (Saint Francis) def. Gahagan,Reed/Kunaka,Andrew (Chicago State University) 6-2
Troyan,Gregory/Potts,Noah (Saint Francis) def. TEAM/TEAM (Chicago State University) by default
Singles
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Hoida,Yurii (Chicago State University) vs. Suresh,Kevin Titus (Saint Francis) 6-2, 3-6, 3-5 (unfinished)
Teixeira,Joao (Chicago State University) def. Lorenzo,Blake (Saint Francis) 6-4, 6-2
Kunaka,Andrew (Chicago State University) def. Ng,Jonah (Saint Francis) 7-6, 5-4
Beckles,Mario (Saint Francis) def. Gahagan,Reed (Chicago State University) 6-2, 6-4
Potts,Noah (Saint Francis) def. Atkins,Justin (Chicago State University) 7-5, 6-4
Pandey,Deven (Saint Francis) def. TEAM (Chicago State University) by default
The Cougars end their season with a 2-20 overall record and have now officially competed at their first NEC Tournament in school history.
