LEWISTON, Maine -- With the Bates men's tennis spring season set to begin, the Bobcats enter 2026 shaped by fall development and lessons learned during a competitive 2025 campaign.
Bates opens this Saturday in Florida against Saint Leo University (No. 12 DII), followed by matches with Rollins College and Florida Southern (No. 14 DII) on Feb 16 and 17, respectively. The Bobcats then return home for a doubleheader against Southern Maine and Brandeis (March 1) before opening NESCAC play on the road at No. 3 Tufts on March 7 and Trinity on March 8.
A major boost comes from the return of juniors Nicolas Ozer and Phillippe Kosyagin after spending the fall semester abroad. Kosyagin anchored the lineup last spring at No. 1 singles and doubles, totaling 11 combined wins. Ozer added depth across the lineup, appearing in nine doubles matches—primarily at No. 3—and six singles matches, mostly at No. 6. His strongest performance came in a three-set win over Williams on March 15.
Senior captain Theo Sardain returns as one of the program's most dependable leaders after competing at No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles last season. His leadership was especially evident during the fall, as he helped guide a young roster through hidden duals and ITA competition. Sardain also recorded two fall singles wins and teamed with first-year Rocco Regnier for a notable doubles victory over Bryant.
The first-year class began to establish itself during the fall and is expected to take on a larger role this spring. Regnier posted three singles wins and two doubles victories in his first collegiate semester, including straight-set wins over Diego Sosa of Colby and Max Golubenko of Trinity. Josh Maller also made an immediate impact, earning his first career win Sept. 20 against Nika Mori of Skidmore and adding two more victories at the Wallach Invitational.
Sophomore Eric Diop enters the spring after a strong fall and productive first full year in the lineup. Diop won four of seven singles matches in the fall, closing the season on a three-match win streak. Last spring, he led the team with six singles wins at the No. 3 position. Diop and fellow sophomore Tylan Ozkuzey also formed a reliable doubles pairing, winning eight of 13 matches together.
Ozhuzey made a smooth transition into collegiate competition last spring, earning four singles wins—three at No. 6 and one at No. 5. Another player expected to take a step forward is James Sacco, who enters his second spring after gaining experience throughout the lineup. Sacco won four doubles matches last season with three different partners and recorded singles victories highlighted by a three-set win over Sam Park of Trinity.
Head coach Paul Gastonguay '89 enters his 30th season at Bates and his second year working exclusively with the men's program. With a veteran core, a maturing sophomore class, and a freshman group that gained valuable experience in the fall, the Bobcats look to convert those building blocks into results this spring.
