Florida State University Athletics
Sunday, January 11
Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center
11:00 a.m.
Florida State
vs
Troy University
Seminoles Open Season with Doubleheader
1/10/2026 7:09:00 AM | Men's Tennis
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State men's tennis team begins its 78th season on Sunday with a doubleheader against Troy and Mercer at the Scott Speicher Memorial Tennis Center. Admission is free to all spectators.
The doubleheader begins at 11 a.m. against Troy before the next match starts later at 4 p.m. against Mercer. The Seminoles hold an 11-0 all-time record over the Trojans and have only lost once against the Bears of Mercer. Both series started in FSU's inaugural season in 1948.
The Seminoles swept the Bears 7-0 in 2024, where Azariah Rusher and Justin Lyons earned the first point of the season after the pair took the first match to defeat Samuel Barrow and Victor Putter 6-2. Lyons also clinched his first collegiate singles win against Barrow in a two-set victory. Rusher made quick work in his spring singles debut after registering a sweep against Andrew Branicki.
Six athletes are returning from last year's roster, which includes Corey Craig, Jan Sebesta, Erik Schiessl, Elias Sumnann, Rusher and Lyons. Florida State adds four new faces as Gabriele Brancetelli, Luis Felipe Miguel, Mohammad Alkotop and Oren Ezerzer enter their first season.
The Seminoles are coming off a 19-win season in 2025 and finished 23rd in the 2025 final ITA rankings. The team advanced to the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament for the 17th time and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season.
Head Coach Dwayne Hultquist enters his 26th season, marking a quarter century of being at the helm for the Seminoles, while Assistant Coach Sudanwa Sitaram is set for his second season at Florida State.
Live stats and streaming for both matches will be available on Seminoles.com
For more information on the Florida State men's tennis program, check Seminoles.com and follow us on social media at Florida State Men's Tennis (FB) and FSUMTennis (IG and X).
The doubleheader begins at 11 a.m. against Troy before the next match starts later at 4 p.m. against Mercer. The Seminoles hold an 11-0 all-time record over the Trojans and have only lost once against the Bears of Mercer. Both series started in FSU's inaugural season in 1948.
The Seminoles swept the Bears 7-0 in 2024, where Azariah Rusher and Justin Lyons earned the first point of the season after the pair took the first match to defeat Samuel Barrow and Victor Putter 6-2. Lyons also clinched his first collegiate singles win against Barrow in a two-set victory. Rusher made quick work in his spring singles debut after registering a sweep against Andrew Branicki.
Six athletes are returning from last year's roster, which includes Corey Craig, Jan Sebesta, Erik Schiessl, Elias Sumnann, Rusher and Lyons. Florida State adds four new faces as Gabriele Brancetelli, Luis Felipe Miguel, Mohammad Alkotop and Oren Ezerzer enter their first season.
The Seminoles are coming off a 19-win season in 2025 and finished 23rd in the 2025 final ITA rankings. The team advanced to the Quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament for the 17th time and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season.
Head Coach Dwayne Hultquist enters his 26th season, marking a quarter century of being at the helm for the Seminoles, while Assistant Coach Sudanwa Sitaram is set for his second season at Florida State.
Live stats and streaming for both matches will be available on Seminoles.com
For more information on the Florida State men's tennis program, check Seminoles.com and follow us on social media at Florida State Men's Tennis (FB) and FSUMTennis (IG and X).
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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