SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota men's tennis has tied for fourth in the 2026 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, league officials announced Wednesday, while in the same release, sophomore
Leo Galliano was individually recognized as an Athlete to Watch.
The back-to-back conference champions from Denver topped the poll with 25 points and five first-place votes as Omaha finished second with 18 points and the final first-place vote. Illinois State rounded out the top three with 17 points as North Dakota tied with Drake for fourth place alongside 12 points. The Fighting Hawks clinched the two-seed in the conference bracket a season ago and defeated Omaha, 4-1. to advance to the first championship match in program history. UND would fall to Denver, 4-0, in the title contest and finished the 2025 slate with an 18-5 overall record and 4-1 conference showing.
Galliano, the reigning Summit League Newcomer of the Year, returns to UND after a strong rookie season. He accrued All-Summit First Team honors after going 18-4 in singles—a win total that broke the UND single-season record—including a 15-3 showing from the No. 3 spot. The sophomore also led the team with 12 doubles victories, nine of which came on the No. 3 court.
North Dakota tennis will open its season at home against Marquette on Friday, January 16 at 4:30 p.m. and Montana State on Sunday, January 18 at 3:30 p.m.
2026 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON POLL
|
Team |
Score (1st place votes) |
| 1. |
Denver |
25 (5) |
| 2. |
Omaha |
18 (1) |
| 3. |
Illinois State |
17 |
| T4. |
North Dakota |
12 |
| T4. |
Drake |
12 |
| 6. |
Oral Roberts |
6 |
MEN'S TENNIS PRESEASON ATHLETES TO WATCH LIST
Note: Athletes to Watch nominated by the league's head coaches
Samuel Rovai, Denver
So | Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2025 First Team All-Summit League honoree
- Finished last season with a 23-10 record (14-7 in duals)
- Notched an 11-4 singles record at the No. 4 spot
- Added a 10-8 record in doubles (13-4 in duals, 2-1 in Summit League)
Liam Spiers, Omaha
Gr | Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Transferred from San Diego State where he posted a combined 10-8 dual record in singles action last season from the No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 spots
- Finished with 11 overall singles wins on the season
- Earned six doubles wins playing alongside Marc Kleber on courts No. 2 and No. 3
- Helped lead the Aztecs to the Mountain West finals and national ranking as a junior
Christian Capacci, Illinois State
So | Forlimpopoli, Italy
- Compiled a 13-5 record in singles play (4-1 in Summit League)
- Posted a 4-11 doubles record and a 3-0 mark in League action
- Defeated nationally-ranked Kyran Magimay of Notre Dame
- Won five consecutive Summit League matches from March 22-April 16
Leo Galliano, North Dakota
So | Chalais, Switzerland
- Earned the Summit League Newcomer of Year award following his freshman season
- Selected to the All-Summit League First Team
- Completed last season with an 18-4 singles record (4-1 in Summit League)
- Was 12-7 in doubles play with a 2-4 record in Summit League action
Christian Winstead, Drake
Sr | San Jose, Costa Rica
- Tallied a 3-4 record at the No. 1 singles
- Posted a record of 1-2 at doubles No. 2 and 0-1 at No. 3
- Compiled a 5-13 overall record between singles and doubles play
- Defeated FGCU's Jonathan Baron and North Dakota's Walker Valentine during 2025 fall season
Ricardo Filho, Oral Roberts
Sr | Uba, Brazil
- Competed at the No. 1 spot in singles action and compiled a 4-12 overall record (1-4 in Summit League)
- Posted a 3-1 record in Summit League doubles play
- Played at the No. 1 position in doubles and posted an 11-7 overall record at the top spot
- Named to the Summit League Honorable Mention team
For updates and more information on North Dakota men's tennis, follow on social media @UNDmtennis or visit FightingHawks.com
