Men's Tennis | 4/10/2026 10:17:00 PM

Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College men's tennis team found themselves pitted against the reigning national champions, for a Friday night matchup. Despite the Crimson and Gold bringing upping their intensity, the Big Red won 6-1. This loss puts Oberlin's record to 9-6.

Doubles tipped play in the Big Red's favor. Though the sophomore No. 3 team of Max Brose and Oliver Knijnenburg had a strong showing than last year's match, the duo lost 6-1. Shawn Lisann and Cameron Weiss at No. 1 doubles secured a game but ultimately fell, 6-1. On court two, Zain Makada and Enrique Margain, lost 6-3. 

With the doubles round over, Oberlin buckled down for another set of highly-competitive matches. Brose played at No. 4 singles, staying calm and collected through a 6-0, 6-0 loss. Makada was strong at the baseline and added some fist-pumping action to the mix while taking four games in a 6-2, 6-2 loss on court two. While Lisann's start was shaky against Denison's No. 1 singles player, Ethan Green, he performed better towards the end of the match, losing 6-1, 6-4.

Down 3-0, the Yeomen were still playing high-quality tennis and pushing the Big Red on court. Weiss kept with his opponent at No. 3 singles, Jacob Patterson, however, a change in momentum from Patterson towards the end of the first set led to him taking the win 6-4, 6-3. 

Senior Sebastien Naginski was up next at No. 5 singles, who landed topspin lobs, slices, and several impressive down-the-line winners. Naginski took the first set 6-3. On the court beside him at No. 6 singles, sophomore Oliver Knijnenburg played a tightly contested match, losing 6-2, 6-1. Back on court five, Naginski dropped the second set 6-2, to even the score at one set each. The entirety of the men's tennis team fired-up the senior, helping propel him to a 10-3 win in the tiebreaker for the match, claiming his first career victory over Denison.

"Playing Denison is always really fun for the entire team. I went out there and told myself [to] play the way I wanted to and enjoy the match. That's what I did" said Naginski. 

Oberlin faces the second dual match of this weekend's triple-header tomorrow, Saturday, April 11. The Crimson and Gold host No. 48 Wabash for a home match beginning at 3 p.m.

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