Samford wins its second consecutive SoCon tournament title

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – In a tightly contested championship match on Saturday afternoon at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee, No. 2 seed Samford secured a 4-2 win over No. 1 seed ETSU.

Samford won its second straight SoCon tournament crown. The win also marked the fourth conference title for the Bulldogs.

In doubles, Samford’s Lukas Dvorak and Cooper Errey topped Juan Listo and James Sim, 6-4, on court three. ETSU’s tandem of Oscar Martinez and Martin Vergara responded with a 6-4 win on court one over Sandeep Mohandoss and Darcy Nicholls. The Bulldogs would capture the doubles point following a 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot from Sebastian Harrison and Vitorio Sardinha over Peter Kalocsai and Arenui Luethi.

Nicholls got the first singles win of the day, topping Vergara, 6-1, 6-3, on court two. ETSU won the next two results as Carlos Gonzales was victorious, 6-2, 6-0, on court six, and Kai Cowcher won 6-1, 6-2, on court four, tying the match at 2-2.

Mohandoss then handed SoCon Player of the Year Martinez just his second loss of the season, winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, to get Samford one point from victory. After that, Dvorak finished his rally back after dropping the first set at the No. 5 spot, ending with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win to clinch the title for the Bulldogs.

Nicholls, who was named tournament’s most outstanding player, also won the Pinnacle Award as the student-athlete with the highest GPA on the championship-winning team. The senior from Warragul, Australia maintains a 4.0 GPA while majoring in Law, Politics, and Society.

The Bulldogs, who earned the SoCon’s automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championships, will learn their postseason opponent on Monday, April 27, with an announcement on NCAA.com at 5 p.m.
 
Singles competition
1. Sandeep Mohandoss (SAM) def. Oscar Martinez (ETSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Darcy Nicholls (SAM) def. Martin Vergara (ETSU) 6-1, 6-3

3. Peter Kalocsai (ETSU) vs. Sebastian Harrison (SAM) 7-5, 4-6, 4-0, unfinished
4. Kai Cowcher (ETSU) def. Santiago Arrendondo (SAM) 6-1, 6-2

5. Lukas Dvorak (SAM) def. Arenui Luethi (ETSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

6. Carlos Gonzales (ETSU) def. Cooper Errey (SAM) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Oscar Martinez/Martin Vergara (ETSU) def. Sandeep Mohandoss/Darcy Nicholls (SAM) 6-4

2. Sebastian Harrison/Vitorio Sardinha (SAM) def. Peter Kalocsai/Arenui Luethi (ETSU) 6-3

3. Lukas Dvorak/Cooper Errey (SAM) def. Juan Listo/James Sim (ETSU) 6-4
 

Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1,2) Singles (2,6,4,1,5)

*****
 

2026 SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Champions Club
Thursday, April 16
Match 1: No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 8 The Citadel 0
Match 2: No. 4 Mercer 4, No. 5 Furman 1
Match 3: No. 3 Chattanooga 4, No. 6 UNCG 3
Match 4: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 7 Wofford 0
 
Friday, April 17
Match 5: No. 1 ETSU 4, No. 4 Mercer 0
Match 6: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 3 Chattanooga 0
 
Saturday, April 18
Match 7: No. 2 Samford 4, No. 1 ETSU 2