GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Post-season competition is next on the schedule for both the North Dakota men's and women's tennis teams as the Fighting Hawks each finished in the top four of the conference earned bids to the Summit League Men's and Women's Tennis Championships. The competition is all set to kick off in both brackets on Friday in Tulsa, Okla.
 
With a record of 13-9 overall and 4-2 in the conference, the UND women secured the No. 3 seed and will take on No. 2 Omaha in a 12 p.m. match. The previous match-up between the two teams earlier this month ended in nail-biting heartbreak for the Fighting Hawks as the Mavericks squeaked out a 4-3 win at Choice Health & Fitness on April 4. Should the women win their semifinal match, North Dakota will move on to the championship match at 10 a.m. on Saturday against the winner of No. 1 Denver and No. 4 Oral Roberts.
 
The UND men—behind records of 14-9 and 3-2—clinched the No. 2 seed in the men's bracket and will take on No. 3 Oral Roberts in the final match of the Friday schedule at 6 p.m. Earlier this season, North Dakota dominated the Golden Eagles, 6-1, in a marathon contest hindered by weather and location changes to kick off the conference slate. Should the men win their semifinal match, the Fighting Hawk will take on the winner of No. 1 Denver and No. 4 Illinois State in a 1 p.m. championship match on Saturday afternoon.
 
Last Time Out
Post-season bids came down to the wire for both the men's and women's teams, who each saw nail-biting action on the road and at home on Saturday, April 18.
 
The UND women kicked it off at home on Senior Day, taking on St. Thomas after honoring the program's five incomparable seniors. Doubles competition went in favor of the visitors and forced the home Fighting Hawks into an early 1-0 deficit, but then the battle was on. A pair of UND singles wins from Alyssa Giupponi and Alva Norberg flipped it into a 2-1 advantage for the home team but the team score would tie at both 2-2 and 3-3 after a win from Andrea Pineda. All eyes turned to the number six spot as the three-set thriller went to the UND freshman, Emma Roberts, to finalize the 4-3 win and post-season ticket.
 
Thrilling competition continued out in Bloomington, Ill. as the men faced Illinois State in its regular season closer. After dropping the doubles point and falling behind 1-0 early on, North Dakota rallied back by taking four of the six singles matches in back-and-forth fashion as five of the six matches went to three sets. Justin Ilic tied things up at 1-1 before Leo Galliano forced another tie at 2-2. But it was stunning three-set victories from Christos Alex and Darrshan Suresh Kumar that secured the 4-3 win for UND and firmly put the Fighting Hawks in post-season competition.
 
Summit League Accolades
Peak Performer of the Week – Singles
*Ethel Li – 1/20/26
*Jule Schulte – 3/10/26
*Ethel Li – 3/24/25
*Leo Galliano – 3/31/26
 
Peak Team of the Week – Doubles
*Ethel Li and Jule Schulte – 1/20/26
*Ethel Li and Jule Schulte – 3/17/26
*Ethel Li and Jule Schulte – 3/24/26
*Ethel Li and Jule Schulte – 4/14/26
 
Preseason Rankings and Athletes to Watch
In the Preseason Summit League Coaches' Poll released on January 14, the North Dakota women were selected third with one first-place vote, while the Fighting Hawk men tied for fourth. The same release named Jule Schulte and Leo Galliano as Athletes to Watch in this Summit League this season.
 
For updates and more information on North Dakota tennis, follow on social media @UNDmtennis and @UNDwtennis or visit FightingHawks.com.