{"id":667495,"date":"2026-05-13T04:47:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T04:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/667495\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T04:47:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T04:47:08","slug":"ferris-state-mens-tennis-team-advances-to-ncaa-dii-national-tournament-sweet-16-with-wins-on-home-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/667495\/","title":{"rendered":"Ferris State men\u2019s tennis team advances to NCAA DII National Tournament Sweet 16 with wins on home court"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\u00a0
\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\u00a0
\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\u00a0
\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

May 12, 2026<\/p>\n

\"SophomoreAdrian Catahan competing against Drury University on May 12, 2026.<\/p>\n

BIG RAPIDS, Mich.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Ferris State University men’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA Division II National
\n Championships for the first time in nine years as the Bulldogs pulled out a 4-1 win
\n over Northwood on Tuesday in the Midwest Region final.<\/p>\n

With the win, the Bulldogs move on to the DII Sweet Sixteen set for May 19-24 in Surprise,
\n Arizona.<\/p>\n

Ferris State will advance to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time
\n in school history and the first time since 2017.<\/p>\n

After claiming a 4-1 win over Drury University in the regional opener on Monday afternoon
\n at the Big Rapids High School courts, the Bulldogs moved inside on Tuesday to the
\n university\u2019s Racquet and Fitness Center and topped Northwood University in the first
\n match this season between the two longtime tennis rivals.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs took the early lead by winning the doubles round, taking two of the three
\n flights for the initial point of the match. The pairing of\u00a0Adrian Catahan<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Erik Kovacs<\/a>\u00a0came away with a decisive 6-2 win at one doubles and\u00a0Felipe Iser<\/a>\u00a0teamed up with\u00a0Kevin Kovacs<\/a>\u00a0for a 7-6 (7-2) victory at two doubles.<\/p>\n

In singles play,\u00a0Kevin Kovacs\u00a0got the Bulldogs started early, pushing the match lead
\n to 2-0 with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 win at one singles.<\/p>\n

Northwood cut the lead to 2-1 when Marc Ferrando Farras fought back to top Iser by
\n a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 score.<\/p>\n

However, freshman\u00a0Praneel Pichika<\/a>\u00a0then rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) triumph at four singles, setting the stage
\n for the clinching win by Jose Andres Perez Alarcon at two singles. He won the initial
\n set 6-4 and sealed the victory with a 7-6 (7-4) decision.<\/p>\n

FSU’s Catahan led his match at five singles 6-3, 1-2 when play was stopped due to
\n the clinch while\u00a0Erik Kovacs<\/a>\u00a0held an early 2-1 lead at six singles.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs improved to 19-3 this year with their 10th consecutive victory of the
\n season. Ferris State capped off the year with a 12-0 home mark, including the win
\n on Monday at BRHS along with 11 victories at the Racquet and Fitness Center this campaign.<\/p>\n

Ferris State will advance to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time
\n in school history and the first time since 2017.<\/p>\n

The Bulldogs won the regional in Big Rapids in back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017
\n to advance to the national championships where they eventually reached the Elite Eight
\n in back-to-back years, including a final four showing in 2016.<\/p>\n

Along with capturing the regional title, the Bulldogs also won the GLIAC Regular-Season
\n Championship this year and won the league’s postseason tournament.<\/p>\n