INDIANAPOLIS – The third-ranked and number one seed Saint Leo University men's tennis team dropped its opening round match at the 2025 ITA Indoor National Championship on Friday morning. The Lions had a 3-2 match lead before Washburn earned a pair of wins on the final two courts to hand Saint Leo a 4-3 loss, its first of the 2025 season. The Lions improved to 2-1, while #8 Washburn improves to 4-0.

Washburn claimed the early doubles lead with a win at number one doubles. Saint Leo responded by winning both doubles matches at the three and two to clinch the doubles point. Kodai Kato and Jose David Segovia won 6-4 to even double play at 1-1. A win at number two doubles by Eduardo Cohen and Luis Iriarte 7-6(4), in the tiebreaker gave the Green & Gold the early 1-0 match lead.
 
The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead with wins at number five and one singles. Luis Iriarte gave the Lions a 2-0 advantage with back-to-back 6-2 wins. Vincent Thiel won 6-1 and 7-5 at number one singles for the 3-0 lead. After Washburn made it a 3-2 match in favor of the Lions, three straight three set victories gave Washburn the match victory.
 
(8) #8 WASHBURN 4, (1) #3 SAINT LEO 3
DOUBLES
1. Matthew Earle/Tim Hammes (WU) def. Vincent Thiel/Taiyo Hirano (SLU) 6-2
2. Eduardo Cohen/Luis Iriarte (SLU) def. Tommy Cecchetti/Vasek Schneider (WU) 7-6(4)
3. Kodai Kato/Jose David Segovia (SLU) def. Pavlos Parson/Zino Nahirniak (WU) 6-4
 
SINGLES
1. Vincent Thiel (SLU) def. Tim Hammes (WU), 6-1, 7-5
2. Vasek Schneider (WU) def. Dylan Andrianaly (SLU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Pavlos Parson (WU) def. Jose David Segovia (SLU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
4. Tommy Cecchetti (WU) def. Kodai Kato (SLU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Luis Iriarte (SLU) def. Matthew Earle (WU), 6-2, 6-2
6. Taiyo Hirano (SLU) def. Zino Nahirniak (WU), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
 
ORDER OF FINISH
DOUBLES: 1, 3, 2
SINGLES: 5, 1, 2, 4, 3, 6
 
UP NEXT
The Lions have a quick return to the ITA Indoor National Championships as they will face the Cougars of Columbus State at 8 a.m.