Resilience defines the Longhorns' historic ITA Indoors triumph as clutch wins in doubles and singles secured their maiden championship title against the Buckeyes.
DALLAS - Texas Men’s Tennis delivered a historic performance in Dallas, capturing its first ITA Indoor National Championship with a gritty 4-2 win over No. 2 Ohio State at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex.
Ranked No. 7 nationally, the Longhorns capped a remarkable tournament run by knocking off one of college tennis’ premier programs, avenging an early-season road loss in the process.
For head coach Bruce Berque and his squad, the breakthrough moment marked a defining chapter in program history.
The tone was set in doubles, where every court required a tiebreaker. Texas showed resilience under pressure, erasing multiple match points across the courts.
The duo of Sebastian Gorzny and Lucas Marionneau stunned the nation’s top-ranked pair, Brandon Carpico and Nikita Filin, 7-6 (5) at No. 2 doubles. Meanwhile, Sebastian Eriksson and Oliver Ojakaar secured the crucial doubles point with a 7-6 (3) victory over the No. 8 team of Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima.
With the early edge secured, the focus shifted to singles play.
Ohio State evened the match at 1-1 when Abel Forger fell at No. 3, but senior standout Sebastian Gorzny quickly restored Texas’ lead. Ranked No. 10 nationally, Gorzny delivered a composed 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 13 Aidan Kim at the top spot, showcasing why he’s one of the nation’s elite players.
The Buckeyes responded again at No. 4 singles, tying the overall score at 2-2.
Lucas Marionneau battled back after dropping the first set to defeat No. 98 Nikita Filin, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 6 singles, putting the Longhorns one point away from the championship. That left Kalin Ivanovski at No. 2 singles with the opportunity to seal it.
Ivanovski delivered in straight sets, taking down No. 22 Preston Stearns, 7-5, 6-4. His clutch performance clinched the decisive fourth point and sent the Texas bench spilling onto the court in celebration.
The championship run included wins over No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 5 TCU and No. 19 Baylor, underscoring the Longhorns’ dominance against elite competition. After a season-opening stretch that tested the roster’s depth, Texas found its rhythm at the perfect time.
With the ITA Indoor National Championship trophy now in Austin, the Longhorns shift their attention to SEC play, carrying momentum ... and the confidence of knowing they sit atop college tennis.