Blue Demons Edge Grand Canyon in 4-3 Contest

Sunday, February 9

Phoenix, Ariz.

12 P.M. CT

DePaul University

Grand Canyon

2/9/2025 5:15:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS

Box Score (PDF)

Men’s tennis takes two of three matches in Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. – DePaul men's tennis closed its trip to Arizona with a gritty, hard-fought 4-3 victory over Grand Canyon (3-2) in a lengthy contest at the GCU Tennis Facility. The Blue Demons (4-3, 1-0 BIG EAST) fought back in doubles and pushed through a see-saw singles stretch, with senior Matteo Iaquinto clinching the match at No. 1.

"I'm super proud and happy for these guys," said head coach Matt Brothers. "Going outdoors for the first time in the season is never easy, but they handled themselves like they were in their own backyard. The win over Northern Arizona got us started on the right foot. Despite losing the doubles point, the guys played very well and bounced back in singles. ASU was a tough one—it's a top-25 program, and it was good for our guys to see what that level looks like. They realize they're not that far behind. Against GCU today, in our third match in a couple of days, the guys played amazing. We had a great doubles performance and fought hard for the point. Credit to GCU—they played very well and bounced back, but our guys endured and fought really hard for it."

DePaul secured the opening point in doubles with victories at No. 2 and No. 3. Iaquinto and Marko Milosavljevic earned a 7-6(6) tiebreaker win at No. 2, while Thomas Giles and Pablo Torres Almeida delivered a strong 6-3 performance at No. 3 to clinch the point. GCU took No. 1 doubles, 7-5, but DePaul carried a 1-0 advantage into singles play.

Torres Almeida kept the momentum rolling, earning a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 2 to extend the lead to 2-0. GCU responded with wins at No. 3 and No. 5, leveling the match at 2-2.

Milosavljevic put DePaul back in front with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory at No. 4, giving the Blue Demons a 3-2 edge. Grand Canyon answered at No. 6 to tie it once again at 3-3, setting up a showdown at No. 1.

With the match on the line, Iaquinto delivered in a three-set thriller, securing a 7-6(5), 6-7(6), 7-5 victory to clinch the win for DePaul.

"Matteo's senior leadership at the No. 1 spot was huge," said Brothers. "It was a grueling match, back and forth in the third set, and [GCU] served it out on a deuce point for a 7-5 victory. We've got another tough opponent in Indiana, but I'm very happy to be 4-4 on the season with the level of competition we've faced."

UP NEXT
The Blue Demons return to the Midwest to take on Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., on Sunday, Feb. 16. First serve is slated for 11 a.m. CT.

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Final Results
DePaul 4, Grand Canyon 3
February 9, 2025
GCU Tennis Facility – Phoenix, Ariz.

Singles
Matteo Iaquinto (DPU) def. Nikita Volonski (GCU) 7-6(7), 3-6, 7-5
Pablo Torres Almeida (DPU) def. Brice Patoux (GCU) 7-5, 6-2
Matteo Lugar (GCU) def. Tobias Leitner (DPU) 6-1, 6-4
Marko Milosavljevic (DPU) def. Andreas Loizas (GCU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
Jonathan Da Silva (GCU) def. Andy Hadziabdic (DPU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
Paolo Rosati (GCU) def. Thomas Giles (DPU) 5-7, 6-2, 7-5

Doubles
Nikita Volonski/Brice Patoux (GCU) def. Jona Gitschel/Tobias Leitner (DPU) 7-5
Marko Milosavljevic/Matteo Iaquinto (DPU) def. Diordan Macababbad/Andreas Loizas (GCU) 7-6(6)
Thomas Giles/Pablo Torres Almeida (DPU) def. Jonathan Da Silva/Paolo Rosati (GCU) 6-3

Notes
Order of Completion: Doubles 3-1-2, Singles 2-3-5-4-6-1
DePaul: 4-3
Grand Canyon: 3-3