In a historic victory, the Arizona men’s tennis team secured its first-ever conference tournament title in the last-ever Pac-12 Men’s Tennis Championships. The Wildcats defeated Stanford 4-0 in a thrilling final match held in Ojai, Calif.
Arizona, led by coach Clancy Shields, had split the regular season Pac-12 championship with Stanford, with the Cardinal being the only team to defeat the Wildcats in conference play. However, Arizona avenged their earlier loss by dominating the championship match.
The doubles pairs of Sasha Rozin/Gustaf Strom and Jay Friend/Colton Smith set the tone for Arizona by winning the team’s first point of the night. The momentum carried over into singles play, with Strom and Friend securing crucial points to put Arizona up 3-0.
Despite Stanford winning the opening set in the remaining singles matches, Arizona fought back and ultimately clinched the championship with a victory from Nick Lagaev on the No. 6 court.
Coach Shields praised his team’s hard work throughout the season, emphasizing that the championship win was more than just a title – it marked the end of an era for the program. With their impressive performance, Arizona is now poised to host an NCAA Regional as one of the top teams in the country.
The Wildcats’ triumph in the Pac-12 Men’s Tennis Championships will be remembered as a historic moment for the program, capping off a successful season with a well-deserved championship title.