British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

RE: US College chat 2025/26

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

TCU had match points to win, but their rebuilding season ends with a 3-4 loss

4. #89 Oliver Ojakaar (TEX) def. Oliver Bonding (TCU) 6-1, 6-3

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

Wake Forest couldn't defend the title and normally reliable Luca succumbed to a 2nd successive defeat.

3. #114 Jangjun Kim (VA) def. #28 Luca Pow (WF) 7-5, 5-7, 6-2

Charlie was absent from the line-up and that those below him in the line-up had to play up may have contributed to the defeat.

JonH · Tennis legend

I see auburn came through the womens semi - so no British players make the finals this season, sadly.

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

In the women's semi-finals Ohio State were no match for Auburn. Auburn dominated doubles and Flora and Hep both lost their respective doubles sets easily. Neither played singles. And that ends British player participation for this season. Auburn do however have Brit Pete Francis on their coaching staff.

In the other semi, Texas A&M came back to give Georgia and their massive home support their first home defeat of the season.

Aside from Auburn, all the other finalists came back from 1-3 down.

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

When Ruby starts at Texas A&M in August she'll be joining the NCAA National Champions.

Virginia won the men's title.

dodrade · Futures qualifying

It was interesting to finally see how college Tennis actually works. The doubles is a bit odd (3 matches but only 1 point at stake) but I suppose the one set format means everyone is fresh enough to play singles immediately afterwards. It must be distracting though having the crowd react to the adjoining matches, plus you can't be sure if you'll even get to finish your match depending on results elsewhere.

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

The All-Americans, the most prestigious of the individual awards, has been announced. These are awarded to the athletes at the very top of their sport.

British recipients
Ollie Tarvet - Top 20 singles
Luca Pow - NCAA Individuals singles last 16
Will Jansen - NCAA Individuals singles last 16
Savannah Dada-Mascoll - NCAA Individuals singles last 16 & Top 20 singles

Freddy Blaydes - doubles Top 10
Billy Blaydes - doubles Top 10
Henry Jefferson - NCAA Individuals doubles QF
Flora Johnson - Doubles Top 10

Congratulations to all

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

Bronte Murgett is returning to her alma mater to be the assistant coach for Missouri women as part of a whole new coaching team. They have some rebuilding to do as Missouri was winless in conference play last season.

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

The Americans love their awards. The latest awards are the regional awards where we have a few players recognised as the Most Improved Player in their region and a number of coaches and assistant coaches winning their regional award. If I remember correctly, the ITA will select from the regional award winners who wins the national award for each of the categories.

ITA Senior Player of the Year
Oliver Tarvet (San Diego) - Southwest Regional

ITA Rookie of the Year
Oliver Bonding (TCU) - Texas Regional

ITA Most Improved Player
Miles Groom (Dartmouth) - New England Regional
Will Jansen (Georgia) - Southeast Regional
Isabelle Lacy (Virginia) - Atlantic Regional
Savannah Dada-Mascoll (Appalachian State) - Carolina Regional
Amelia Tye (UMass) - New England Regional

ITA Player to Watch
Henry Jefferson (Florida) - Southeast Regional
Erin Pearce (Vanderbilt) - Ohio Valley Regional
Ella McDonald (Louisiana State) - Southern Regional

ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship
Raffaello Papajcik (Denver) - Mountain Regional

ITA/Dunlop Coach of the Year
Niall Angus (Santa Clara men) - Northwest Regional
Lloyd Bruce-Burgess (Central Florida men) - Southeast Regional
Anthony Davison (Charlotte women) - Carolina Regional

ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Ben Dunbar (Oklahoma men) - Central Regional
Josh Page (Santa Clara men) - Northwest Regional
David Secker (NC State women) - Carolina Regional
Hannah McColgan (UMass women) - New England Regional
Jack Findel Hawkins (Vanderbilt women) - Ohio Valley Regional
Chris Simpson (Louisiana State women) - Southern Regional

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

The NCAA today voted unanimously to overhaul the eligibility rules in favour of the 5 in 5 model. College athletes will now have 5 years of eligibility from the earlier of their 19th birthday or when they enrol in college. Existing student athletes can choose between the existing rules or the new rules whichever is more favourable to them. Student athletes whose eligibility expired this spring under the existing eligibility model will not be eligible for an additional year.

One downside of this change is that if student athletes take advantage of the extra year of eligibility it will make it harder for school leavers who will be fighting over fewer vacancies on rosters.

Elegant Point · Futures qualifying

The big changes previously made by the NCAA changed the competitive landscape for college athletes ( rosters locked in and scholarship limits gone). Heard the less wealthy colleges are finding it harder to compete, especially in sports like mens tennis. No opportunities for walk ons

JonH · Tennis legend

I noticed looking back that the World Student Games (University Games) was held in July last year (as Toby Samuel seemed to win a medal at it and got a PoM nomination for it in July 25).

Has there been a 2026 version and how did we get on or is it being held at a different time of the year this season?

From the PoM entry:

14. Toby Samuel - won silver medal in the World University Games, seeded 13 and only lost the gold match 7-5 in the final set; also part of the silver winning GB team

-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 6th of August 2026 07:12:56 AM

indiana · Tennis legend

JonH wrote:
I noticed looking back that the World Student Games (University Games) was held in July last year (as Toby Samuel seemed to win a medal at it and got a PoM nomination for it in July 25).

Has there been a 2026 version and how did we get on or is it being held at a different time of the year this season?

From the PoM entry:
14. Toby Samuel - won silver medal in the World University Games, seeded 13 and only lost the gold match 7-5 in the final set; also part of the silver winning GB team

-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 6th of August 2026 07:12:56 AM

I looked up wiki. It's held every 2 years. The next editions ( both summer and winter ) will ne in 2027.

JonH · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
JonH wrote:
I noticed looking back that the World Student Games (University Games) was held in July last year (as Toby Samuel seemed to win a medal at it and got a PoM nomination for it in July 25).

Has there been a 2026 version and how did we get on or is it being held at a different time of the year this season?

From the PoM entry:
14. Toby Samuel - won silver medal in the World University Games, seeded 13 and only lost the gold match 7-5 in the final set; also part of the silver winning GB team

-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 6th of August 2026 07:12:56 AM
I looked up wiki. It's held every 2 years. The next editions ( both summer and winter ) will ne in 2027.

Ah ha! I didnt even imagine it would have a wiki page! Thanks Indy.