Recap courtesy of Buffalo's Athletic Communications Department

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's tennis team defeated Northern Illinois 4-0 at Miller Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon to claim the 2026 Mid-American Conference Men's Tennis Tournament Championship.

It is the first time in program history that the Bulls have gone back-to-back and it is the fourth overall tournament championship in program history, all under head coach Lee Nickell. The Bulls also claimed the regular-season title.

The Bulls got off to a strong start as Onder Balci and Michael Malkin won 6-2 at second doubles and Theodoros Mitsakos and Clement Mainguy followed seconds later with a 6-3 win at the first position to clinch the doubles point and put UB up 1-0.

Senior Emiliano Jorquera extended the UB lead with a 6-2, 6-1 win at fifth singles and Mainguy followed with a 6-1, 6-4 win at third singles to send things to six singles where Nasyam clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Mainguy and Nasyam were named to the All-Tournament team with Mainguy taking home Most Outstanding Player honors.

"This was the most special weekend" Nickell. "These seniors bought into what we gave to them when we recruited them, and they came in here and gave their all and they deserve it all. They changed the culture of this program. To do it at home, the way the athletic department stepped up, it's the most special moments we could ever have. I can't thank them enough and I'm just super proud."

The 2026 NCAA Men's Tennis Selection Show will be held on Monday, April 27, at 5:00 PM ET, where the Bulls will await their first opponent in the big dance.

For more MAC Men’s Tennis news throughout the season, visit www.GetSomeMaction.com and follow @MACSports on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
 
2026 MAC Men’s Tennis Championship
Buffalo, NY | April 18-19, 2026

Saturday, April 18
Match 1: No.1 Buffalo 4 def. No. 4 Ball State 2
Match 2: No. 3 Northern Illinois 4, def. No. 2 Western Michigan 3 
Sunday, April 19
Match 3: No. 1 Buffalo 4, No. 3 Northern Illinois 0

MAC All-Tournament Team
Andrei Caragea, Ball State
Clement Mainguy, Buffalo
Faiz Nasyam, Buffalo
Iker Gaztambide Arrastia, Northern Illinois
Nikola Puntaric, Northern Illinois
Tim Riedel, Western Michigan 

MAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Clement Mainguy, Buffalo