DePaul University Athletics
Friday, January 23
Chicago, Ill.
1 P.M. CT
DePaul University
vs
Cleveland State
Men’s Tennis Opens Anticipated 2026 Campaign at Home
1/22/2026 1:32:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS
Blue Demons host Cleveland State and Toledo
CHICAGO – DePaul men's tennis opens the 2026 dual season at home as it begins its pursuit of another BIG EAST Championship, which would mark its fourth title in six years. The Blue Demons welcome Cleveland State (2-1) on Friday, Jan. 23, followed by Toledo (0-3) on Sunday, Jan. 25, with a day of rest between matches. First serve at XS Tennis is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Friday and 12 p.m. CT on Sunday.
The new-look Blue Demons feature a youthful roster highlighted by two freshmen, Bernardo Vialle and Augusto Pardo Cano, alongside four sophomores, Sebastian Medica, the 2024 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, Andy Hadziabdic, the 2025 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Thomas Giles, and Tobias Leitner. Graduate students Sven Moser and Alejandro Gandini, the 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year, provide veteran leadership, while seniors Pablo Torres Almeida and Elias Anwar round out the roster.
Following the graduation of Jona Gitschel and Matteo Iaquinto from the class of 2025, Moser enters his final year of eligibility as the lone returning Blue Demon with multiple BIG EAST titles to his name. Iaquinto has joined Matt Brothers' 2026 staff as a graduate assistant, bringing his championship experience back to the program to help guide a young and internationally diverse roster. Volunteer instructional assistant Raul Esquerra rounds out a staff built on experience and sustained success.
2025 Rewind
Coming off a 13-11 campaign in 2025 that was halted in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament, the year proved far from a disappointment. For the first time since 2015, DePaul earned a national ranking from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and appeared in the ITA rankings in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2012. The Blue Demons were paced by Hadziabdic with a team-high 21 wins, followed by Torres Almeida with 19 and Leitner with 16 victories. Matteo Iaquinto anchored the top of the lineup throughout the spring, recording seven wins at the No. 1 position.
The Architect
Head coach Matt Brothers begins his 19th season at the helm and ranks among the winningest coaches in program history with 228 career victories. A three-time BIG EAST Champion and BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Brothers has led DePaul to its most successful postseason stretch and looks to guide the Blue Demons back to the NCAA Tournament in 2026.
Viking Voyage
Rocket Fuel
UP NEXT
After a pair of matches at home to open the season, DePaul heads to Richmond, Va., Jan. 30-31, to take on VCU and ETSU.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Men's Tennis, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
The new-look Blue Demons feature a youthful roster highlighted by two freshmen, Bernardo Vialle and Augusto Pardo Cano, alongside four sophomores, Sebastian Medica, the 2024 Big Sky Freshman of the Year, Andy Hadziabdic, the 2025 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Thomas Giles, and Tobias Leitner. Graduate students Sven Moser and Alejandro Gandini, the 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year, provide veteran leadership, while seniors Pablo Torres Almeida and Elias Anwar round out the roster.
Following the graduation of Jona Gitschel and Matteo Iaquinto from the class of 2025, Moser enters his final year of eligibility as the lone returning Blue Demon with multiple BIG EAST titles to his name. Iaquinto has joined Matt Brothers' 2026 staff as a graduate assistant, bringing his championship experience back to the program to help guide a young and internationally diverse roster. Volunteer instructional assistant Raul Esquerra rounds out a staff built on experience and sustained success.
2025 Rewind
Coming off a 13-11 campaign in 2025 that was halted in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament, the year proved far from a disappointment. For the first time since 2015, DePaul earned a national ranking from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and appeared in the ITA rankings in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2012. The Blue Demons were paced by Hadziabdic with a team-high 21 wins, followed by Torres Almeida with 19 and Leitner with 16 victories. Matteo Iaquinto anchored the top of the lineup throughout the spring, recording seven wins at the No. 1 position.
The Architect
Head coach Matt Brothers begins his 19th season at the helm and ranks among the winningest coaches in program history with 228 career victories. A three-time BIG EAST Champion and BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Brothers has led DePaul to its most successful postseason stretch and looks to guide the Blue Demons back to the NCAA Tournament in 2026.
Viking Voyage
- Finished its 2025 campaign with a 13-12 overall record.
- Enters the 2026 spring slate as the reigning Horizon League North Division regular-season champion after going 8-0 in league play.
- Selected as the North Division preseason favorite for the fourth straight year.
- Advanced to the Horizon League Tournament championship match last season, marking the program's 13th title-match appearance under head coach Brian Etzkin.
- Returns seven letterwinners, including reigning Horizon League Player of the Year Lincoln Battle and All-League selections Cole Chappell and Carl Gedlitschka.
Rocket Fuel
- Finished the 2025 campaign with a 9-11 overall record.
- Enters the 2026 season at 0-3 following a road-opening stretch against Big Ten opponents.
- Returns seven letterwinners from last year's roster.
- Features All-MAC honorees Hanamichi Carvajal and Poonthong Komolpisut.
- Added three newcomers to the roster, including two freshmen and one transfer.
UP NEXT
After a pair of matches at home to open the season, DePaul heads to Richmond, Va., Jan. 30-31, to take on VCU and ETSU.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Men's Tennis, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Players Mentioned
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