Men's Tennis | 1/16/2026 8:00:00 AM

Saturday, Jan. 17 | Navy | Annapolis, Md. | Tose Family Tennis Center | 5 p.m. | 

OPENING SERVE VS NAVY 
Saint Francis University's men's tennis team begins its 2026 season with matches against Navy in Annapolis, Maryland, marking the 13th encounter since 2011. In their last meeting, the Red Flash lost to the Mids 7-0. Head Coach Eric Hovan and Assistant Coach Philip Palko aim to secure their first victory at the Naval Academy since the 2016 season.

SCOUTING NAVY
Navy returns 12 letter winners from last year's team that posted an overall record of 24-15, went 8-0 during the Patriot League regular season, and advanced to the championship match of the league tournament for the 13th consecutive time. Undoubtedly, their best player is All-Conference J.J. Etterbeek, who finished his fall slate with a team-leading eight wins in singles competition. Last season, the senior from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, recorded an 18-13 mark in singles, including two four-match winning streaks.

NEXT TIME OUT 
The men's tennis team is back in action Saturday, Jan. 24, in State College, Pennsylvania, to face the Penn State Nittany Lions at 3 p.m.

ABOUT THE COACH
Head coach Hovan begins his fifth season in Loretto and has helped both the men's and women's teams to new heights. In 2023-24, he was named NEC Coach of the Year after helping the men reach their second NEC Championship Game. Last season, the women's tennis team made the NEC Championship Game for the first time in program history. 

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
Men's tennis standout Sophomore  Kevin Titus Suresh had a fall slate to remember, further cementing himself as a star in this already talent-filled team. Across the six tournaments Suresh appeared in, the underclassmen posted a team-high 10-6 record, putting him on the path to claiming his first NEC Singles Championship, which in turn earned him a spot in the ITA Masters in San Diego in early November.