Tufts Men’s Tennis Team Falls in NCAA Semifinals

CLAREMONT, CA (May 20, 2025) — The No. 3 ranked Tufts University men’s tennis team saw its impressive postseason journey come to an end on Tuesday evening in the NCAA Division III Semifinals. They faced off against the No. 2 Denison team and unfortunately lost 4-1 at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center situated at Claremont McKenna College. This match showcased a fierce competition between two of the country’s top teams.

Entering the national semifinals with a solid record of 23-2 and plenty of momentum, Tufts kicked off the doubles play with a strong start. The 12th-ranked duo of Alex Ganchev and Sacha Maes put the Jumbos ahead early by defeating Denison’s Gramley/Patterson combo 6-2. This brought a sense of optimism to the Tufts side, as they aimed to seize the day’s momentum.

However, Denison quickly answered back in the doubles match at No. 3, where Derin Acaroglu and Stavros Mastrogamvrakis were edged 6-4 by Chapides and Meyers. This set up a crucial clash on the first court where Tufts’ top duo of Vuk Vuksanovic and Javier Gonzalez faced Denison’s powerful pair, Ethan Green and Kael Shah. After a tight tiebreaker, Denison secured the doubles point with a score of 7-6 (7-4), putting Tufts in a challenging position going into singles.

Despite the early loss in doubles, Tufts displayed fierce determination in singles play. Freshman Garv Bahl was a bright spot for the Jumbos, delivering an impressive performance on court six with a dominating 6-2, 6-2 win over Denison’s Anthony Payiavlas. Bahl’s strong strategy showcased the talent present in the Tufts lineup.

On court five, Andrej Djokic was in the midst of a comeback battle, leading 2-1 in the third set against Denison’s Nick Meyers when the match was called due to the overall clinch. In the highlight match on court one, Vuk Vuksanovic was locked in a fierce contest with Denison’s top player, Ethan Green. After losing a tight first set 6-4, Vuksanovic pushed the second set to a tiebreak before narrowly losing 8-6, ultimately ending the match for the Jumbos.

Meanwhile, on court two, Javier Gonzalez was engaged in an intense matchup against Denison’s Kael Shah. Gonzalez won the first set 7-5 and was continuing to fight hard in the third set when play was halted. On courts three and four, Denison closed out the match with two key victories, defeating Derin Acaroglu and Lachie Macintosh in straight sets.

Though the loss is disappointing, the 2025 season has been a historic achievement for the Jumbos. Finishing with a record of 23-3 and securing a spot among the top three teams nationally confirms Tufts’ elite status in Division III tennis. With senior leaders like Vuksanovic and Gonzalez, as well as the emergence of young players like Mastrogamvrakis, Bahl, and Djokic, this season will be remembered as a turning point in Tufts athletics. The Jumbos have now made the national semifinals three times in the last four seasons and leave the tournament with their heads held high, showcasing their determination and talent on the national stage.