Claremont, Calif. - For the first time in program history, the Denison University Men's Tennis team has become the NCAA Men's Tennis Team Champions. A complete team effort throughout this postseason run culminated in a heart-racing 4-2 victory over No. 4 Case Western Reserve University. This storied season was filled with record-breaking streaks and first-time achievements. The 2025 National Championship team finished with a program-best 28-2 record and recorded the longest win streak in program history with 20 straight wins. Tying all these accolades together and at the helm of this team's success is 1989 Denison graduate and head coach David Schilling. Tonight's victory marks his 108th win in just five seasons.
For the third time this season, the Denison University Big Red faced fellow Ohio institution Case Western Reserve after the Spartans defeated No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges 4-2 in the semifinal match. Stepping onto the courts of the Biszantz Family Tennis Center with confidence and a 2-0 record against Case, the Big Red made quick work of the Spartans in doubles play, with court two duo Colin Gramley and Jacob Patterson defeating Leon Chen and Jon Totorica 6-1. Just a few minutes later, Ethan Green and Kael Shah put Denison up by one, defeating Case's Casey Hishinuma and Anmay Devaraj 6-2 on court one.

Though momentum was clearly in favor of the Big Red, Case Western regained their composure and stunned courts 1-5 in set one victories, including an 8-6 breaker on court four. Holding steady for Denison was junior Anthony Payiavlas on court six, despite a tightly contested first set win. The Spartans tied the match at one apiece after Casey Hishinuma defeated Nick Meyers 6-1, 6-3 on court five. Case took a one-point lead after Anmay Devaraj beat Jacob Patterson 7-5, 6-1 on court three. Fortunately for the Big Red, they've been down before, and on courts one and two, Green and Shah respectively battled back from set one losses and set two deficits to stun their opponents heading into the final frame.

Payiavlas secured Denison's first singles match win with a definitive 7-5, 6-3 victory over Salazar Garza, tying the match up at two apiece. With three matches left to determine who would take home the 2025 title, Green pulled away from his opponent in the third set to win (2-6, 7-5, 6-2) and put the Big Red up 3-2. As Green won his match on court one, Andreas Chapides was on match point on court four, and with a missed return following a short forehand down the line by Chapides, he clinched the final point for the National Championship title.
 
#2 Denison 4, #4 Case Western Reserve Univ. 2

Singles competition
1. #4 Ethan Green (DENM) def. #11 Mahenthiran, Ajay (CWR-M) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
2. #3 Kael Shah (DENM) vs. #40 Kosseifi, George (CWR-M) 5-7, 6-3, 5-2, unfinished
3. #49 Devaraj, Anmay (CWR-M) def. #20 Jacob Patterson (DENM) 7-5, 6-1
4. Andreas Chapides (DENM) def. Plunkett, Matthew (CWR-M) 6-7 (6-8), 6-1, 6-3
5. Hishinuma, Casey (CWR-M) def. Nick Meyers (DENM) 6-1, 6-3
6. Anthony Payiavlas (DENM) def. Salazar Garza, Sant. (CWR-M) 7-5, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. #2 Ethan Green/Kael Shah (DENM) def. #13 Hishinuma, Casey/Devaraj, Anmay (CWR-M) 6-2
2. #16 Colin Gramley/Jacob Patterson (DENM) def. Chen, Leon/Totorica, Jon (CWR-M) 6-1
3. Andreas Chapides/Nick Meyers (DENM) vs. Bhat, Rohan/Mahenthiran, Ajay (CWR-M) 4-3, unfinished

Match Notes:
Case Western Reserve Univ. 29-5; National ranking #4
Denison 28-2; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,3,6,1,4)
NCAA Division III Men's Tennis - National Championship Match
T-2:57 A-290