Men's Tennis Drops Tight Contest To Mercer

Sunday, March 8

Jacksonville, Fla.

11 a.m.

University of North Florida

Mercer

3/8/2026 3:30:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Men's Tennis fell just short in its comeback attempt, dropping a 4-3 decision to Mercer at UNF Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Riccardo Ciulli and sophomore Joao Portugal earned a doubles win on court three, 6-3. For Ciulli, it was his first collegiate dual doubles win.

However, Mercer would take the doubles point with wins on court one and court two. The Bears would begin singles play with wins on courts three and two grab a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Ospreys fought back with freshman Aron Major cruising to a 6-4, 6-1 singles win on court six to put the Ospreys on the board. With the win, Major improved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 at the number six position.

Ciulli battled to a 7-6(6), 6-4 win on court five and sophomore Kyle Piqueras earned a 6-4, 7-5 win on court four to even the score at 3-3.

The North Florida comeback would fall just short as Mercer would take court one in three sets to clinch the match.

North Florida will face South Alabama at UNF Tennis Complex on Thursday, March 12, at 10 a.m.

North Florida 3, Mercer 4
Doubles
Isak Hod'Abalo Padio/Nemaja Stefanovic (MER) def. Breno Marques/Andreas Scott (UNF) 6-1
Prince Amen Gandonou/Shingo Masuda (MER) def. Youssef Labbene/Aron Major (UNF) 6-4*
Riccardo Ciulli/Joao Portugal (UNF) def. Alex Aldaz/Esteban Davila Gasser (MER) 6-3
(Order of finish – 1,3,2)
*Clincher

Singles
Isak Hod'Abalo Padio (MER) def. Andreas Scott (UNF) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5*
Nemaja Stefanovic (MER) def. Youssef Labbene (UNF) 6-4, 6-3
Shingo Masuda (MER) def. Joao Portugal (UNF) 6-1, 6-4
Kyle Piqueras (UNF) def. Alex Aldaz (MER) 6-4, 7-5
Riccardo Ciulli (UNF) def. Prince Amen Gandonou (MER) 7-6(6), 6-4
Aron Major (UNF) def. Howell Burns (MER) 6-4, 6-1
(Order of finish –3,2,6,5,4,1)
*Clincher