Men’s Tennis | 3/13/2026 10:00:00 AM


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2026 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Schedule



SUNY Oswego will look to repeat as Empire 8 Champions, as the 2026 season is underway. League play begins with one match on Saturday, March 21. The rest of league play will begin Saturday, March 28. 

The league will consist of two divisions (six-team East division and five-team West division) with each team playing its regular season schedule within its same division.

 

The top three teams from each division will advance to the 2026 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament. The top-team in each division will receive an opening round bye, while the No. 2 vs. No. 3 seeds in each division would play each other to determine the final four participants. In 2026, the East Division No. 1 seed will host the semifinals and championship. The second and third seeded East teams will play on Saturday, April 25, while the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds from the West will play on Tuesday, April 28.

The top-seed in the East will play the lowest remaining West Division team in one semifinal on Friday, May 1, while the West No. 1 seed will play the lowest remaining East Division team in the second semifinal. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2026 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, May 2. The Empire 8 Champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship, which begins on Friday, May 8.

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.

2026 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Players to Watch

(Sorted Alphabetically by Institution)

 
ALFRED UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Jake Fisler
Ricardo Alvarez Janik, So., La Orotava, Spain/Colegio Casa Azul – Alvarez Janik earned second team singles all-conference honors in his debut season for the Saxons. He competed in first position singles in 2025 and went 5-5. He competed first position doubles and earned five wins there as well. 

Breece Erickson, Jr., Goshen, IN/Bethany Christian – Erickson, a repeat E8 Player to Watch, earned second team singles all-conference honors in 2025. He played in both the first and second position singles and went 7-8 on the season. He played in the first position doubles and earned five wins on the season there. 

SUNY DELHI – Head Coach Moises Saintil 

Nolan Kleinsasser, So., Elka Park, NY – Kleinsasser was a 2025 second team singles and first team doubles selection. He went 5-3 in both singles and doubles play last season.  

NIcholas Vanhouten, So., Waverly, NY – Vanhouten had a great debut season for the Broncos in 2025. He went 4-4 in singles and 5-3 in doubles. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Matthew Webb

Rune Camps, Fr., Beverlo, Limburg, Belgium/Campus Max – Camps is an exciting prospect for the Highlanders. Look for him to play in the second position singles and first position doubles. 

Preston Tobolski, Jr., Oakfield, NY/Oakfield-Alabama – Tobolski earned second team singles and doubles all-conference accolades in 2025. He finished his season 7-7 in singles and 6-5 with his primary doubles partner. 

LESLEY UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Jason Walsh

Thomas Nicol, Sr., Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough – Nicol played first singles and doubles for the Lynx in 2025. He posted three singles wins and two doubles wins. 

JB Ouellette, So., Old Saybrook, CT/Xavier – Ouellette, in his debut for the Lynx, played in third position singles and earned one win on the season. He earned one doubles win as well. 

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Paul Waida

Noah Britton, Sr., Schenectady, NY/Schalmont – Britton, a 2025 second team singles all-conference selection, had a great junior season. He went 10-7 overall and 6-1 in conference play. 

Max Funiciello, Sr., Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville – Funiciello, a member of the 2025 Empire 8 Doubles Team of the Year, earned first team all-conference nods for both doubles and singles. He went 10-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play. 

NORWICH UNIVERISTY – Head Coach Scott Barker

Terrance Bayly-Henshaw, Jr., Scottsville, NY/Wheatland-Chili – Bayly-Henshaw, a two-time Empire 8 Player to Watch, finshed last season with a perfect 11-0 singles campaign in the second position. He also held an 11-3 record in doubles play. His efforts earned him first team singles and doubles all-conference accolades.  

Jaxson Redmond, So., Kennebunkport, ME/Kennebunk – Redmond, in his debut as a Cadet, finished his season with an 11-1 record in singles, including a 10-1 mark in the third position. He also held a 12-2 record in doubles play. His play earned him first team all-conference nods in both doubles and singles. 

SUNY OSWEGO – Head Coach Mark Baker

Cole Lyons, Fr., Bay Shore, NY/Bay Shore – Lyons is an exciting addition for the Lakers this season. In his debut, he won his second position singles match. He also made an appearance on the first court in his doubles match.

Tyler Yhun, So., Monroe, NY/Washingtonville – Yhun earned first team all-conference accolades in doubles in 2025. He earned two wins in singles last season and 11 in second and third position doubles. 

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY – Head Coach Jason Byam

Will Chubb, Sr., Akron, NY/Akron – Chubb posted three singles wins and a pair of doubles wins last season. He earned second team all-conference honors in dubles action. Chubb has been part of 12 victories in doubles action over the last three years.

Tyler Hernandez, Jr., Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park – Hernandez, the 2024 Empire 8 Co-Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, led the Cardinals with seven singles victories and contributed to two doubles victories last season. He earned first team all-conference honors in singles and second team honors in doubles.

THOMAS COLLEGE – Head Coach Rob Disch

Dominic Clifford, So., Smithfield, ME/Skowhegan – Clifford earned first team all-conference in doubles and second team in singles in 2025. He posted four singles wins and five doubles wins in his debut season. 

Thai Nguyen, Fr., Raleigh, NC/Wakefield – Nguyen will be an exciting prospect for the 2026 season. He will be looked at as a top contributor as the season gets going. 

VERMONT STATE JOHNSON – Head Coach Ryan McDonnell

VERMONT STATE LYNDON – Head Coach Laura Laramee

David Gratton, Sr., Newport, VT/North Country Union – Gratton earned second team all-conference in 2025 for his doubles play. In first singles, he posted four wins and in first doubles, he had six wins. 

Wesley McIntyre, Jr., Troy, NY/Lansingburgh – McIntyre, a second team all-conference selection for doubles, went 9-3 on the season in third position singles. He added six wins in doubles play in first and second position. 

Final 2025 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Standings

East Division

Thomas (11-4, 5-0 E8)

Norwich (10-4, 4-1 E8)

Delhi (4-7, 3-2 E8)

VSU Lyndon (7-5, 2-3 E8)

Lesley (2-9, 1-4 E8)

VSU Johnson (0-10, 0-5 E8)

West Division

Nazareth (12-8, 7-1 E8)

Oswego (11-3, 7-1 E8) – League Champions

Houghton (5-10, 4-4 E8)

St. John Fisher (2-11, 2-6 E8)

Alfred (1-13, 0-8 E8)

2025 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Tournament Recap

First Round (East Division)

East No. 2 Norwich defeated East No. 3 SUNY Delhi, 8-1 – BOX SCORE

First Round (West Division)

West No. 2 SUNY Oswego defeated West No. 3 Houghton, 6-1 – BOX SCORE

Semifinals (at Nazareth) – INDOOR OR OUTDOOR

West No. 1 Nazareth defeated East No. 2 Norwich, 5-0 – BOX SCORE

West No. 2 SUNY Oswego defeated East No. 1 Thomas, 7-2 – BOX SCORE

Championship (at Nazareth) – INDOOR OR OUTDOOR

West No. 2 Oswego defeated West No. 1 Nazareth, 5-1 – BOX SCORE

2025 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Player

Matt Mannara, Sr., SUNY Oswego

 

2026 Empire 8 Men’s Tennis Returning All-Americans, All-Region & Major Award Winners


Anthony Marcano, Oswego, Sr., Farmington, NY/Victor – 2025 Empire 8 Player of the Year
Jose Miguel Garcia Moreta, Oswego, So., East Hampton, NY/East Hampton – 2025 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year
Max Funiciello, Nazareth, Sr., Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville – 2025 Empire 8 Doubles Team of the Year
Tyler Hernandez, St. John Fisher, Jr., Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park – 2024 Empire 8 Co-Player of the Year, 2024 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year