MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Yellowjacket men's tennis team played as rugged of a non-conference schedule as ever in 2024-25. Beginning with the ITA Midwest Regional in September, through its trip to Alabama and back here in the Midwest, the Yellowjackets didn't shy away from any competitors this season.
 
The idea was to lock up as strong of opponents as possible, prepping the team for the rigors that are the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament, where they meet the top teams from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).

Over the past couple of springs, the teams of the SLIAC have derailed the Yellowjackets' bid to return to the NCAA tournament, and unfortunately, that's the case again in 2025.
 
Despite the aggressive scheduling and a powerful effort, the Yellowjacket men saw their season come to an end Friday, falling to Principia 4-1 at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus.
 
Match Notes

• The Yellowjacket duo of Brandon Chu (Rogers, Minn./Rogers) and Blake Haugen (Fairmont, Minn./Fairmont) earned a convincing win at No. 3 doubles, 6-1 over Principia's Alfredo Boly and Christian Tresoldi, but that ended up being the only Superior win and Principia got the doubles point.
• Chu and Haugen finished the season finished the season 8-8 as doubles partners.
• Principia moved ahead 2-0 with a win a No. 4 singles.
• The Yellowjackets earned their only point at No. 5 singles, where Vitor Sakakibara (São Paulo, Brazil/Colégio Saber) won in straight sets, defeating Tresoldi 6-4, 7-5.
• The win was the sixth of the year in singles play for Sakakibara.
• Principia followed with a win at No. 3 singles where Yash Chhabra (Jaipur, Rajasthan/Sanskar School) won the first set 6-3, but Ernesto Botero Diaz rallied to win the second and third sets by 6-3 scores.
• The clinch for Principia came at No. 2 singles where Jesus Soto Bossa won 1-6, 6-0, 7-5 over Sharan Kanugovi (Bangalore, Karnataka/New Baldwin International School).
• The match was called at the time of the decision, with the Yellowjackets leading in two other matches.
• At No. 1 singles, Igor Guetten Chaves (Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil/Colégio Adventista) dropped the first set 2-6 before taking the second 6-4. He was up 2-0 in the third when things were called.
• Chu took the first set of his match at No. 6 singles 6-2 and had yet to start his second set when the match was called.

The Yellowjackets close the season with a record of 8-16.
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