Florida State University Athletics
Florida State
ITA Sectionals Championships
11/8/2026 12:17:00 PM | Men's Tennis
TALAHASSEE – The Florida State men's tennis team wrapped up competition at the ITA Sectionals Championship on Sunday at the Speicher Tennis Courts, highlighted by senior Azariah Rusher.
Rusher opened singles play Thursday with a retired victory over Raphael Vaksmann of Mississippi State before advancing to the quarterfinals with another retirement against Georgia's Gabriele Vulpitta. Rusher held a 6-3 lead in the first set when Vulpitta was forced to withdraw due to injury.
A spot on the line for the NCAA Individual Championships, Rusher faced off against Patrik Munkhammar of Auburn. Munkhammar struck first, winning the opening set 6-4. Rusher, however responded by flipping the script and winning the second set with a convincing 6-1 result. Despite the second set win, Munkhammar continued to find momentum to pull off the 6-1 defeat.
Mikail Amili was also a bright spot for the Seminoles in singles action. Amili opened his tournament run with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 victory over Florida's Alaa Trifi to advance to the Round of 16. The transfer then wrapped up his individual run following a hard-fought three set battle against Auburn's Munkhammar.
In doubles action, Florida State's Oren Ezerzer and Gabor Hornung advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time this season. The duo opened with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory over Dayton's Sturle Hoff Skigelstrand and Mikkel Zinder before battling Indiana's Braden Gelletich and Sam Landau in a thrilling three-set battle. Ezerzer and Hornung claimed the opening set 6-3, but the Hoosiers responded with an equalizer in the second to force a deciding set. After trading games throughout the final set, Indiana ultimately prevailed in the tiebreaker, 11-9.
Up next, Florida State will open the spring season on Jan. 9 at home against the University of West Florida.
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).
