KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 9, 2026) – Emerson College posted a pair of 5-2 dual match victories on Tuesday against Albion College and University of Northwestern (Minn.) in non-conference men's tennis action at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Campus on Monday.
Emerson 5, Albion 2
Junior Filippo Nocchi, sophomore Connor Leung and first year Tai Finestone were all double winners to lead Emerson to the win. First year Adam Alireza also collected a singles win for the Lions.
Freshmen Connor Schultz and Malcolm Johnson earned singles points for Albion.
Nocchi and Leung teamed up to edge the Albion duo of Josh and Jacob Doyle 7-5 at No. 1 doubles, while Finestone and sophomore Cameron McAllister won by a break, 6-4 at No. 3 doubles to earn the first point for Emerson.
Emerson swept the top four singles matches to clinch the victory. Nocchi dropped just a single game on his way to a straight sets win at No. 1 singles over Carter Kendall, while Leung fought past Brady Pettit 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 at No. 2. Finestone posted a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles for the Lions while Alireza won when his opponent retired after he won the first set 6-0.
Emerson 5, Northwestern (Minn.) 2
Nocchi was a double winner again for Emerson in its victory over Northwestern (Minn.) in the Lions second match of the day. Alireza and Finestone also contributed singles wins for the second time on Monday, while senior Noah Mesaros and first year Caiden Riebold were inserted into the lineup and produced singles wins as well.
Northwestern posted the first point of the match by winning two of the three doubles matches. Sophomores Caleb Swigart and Isaac Thomforde clinched the point with their 6-4 win against McAllister and Finestone at No. 3 doubles.
Emerson rallied by winning five of the six singles matches to clinch the victory. Nocchi followed up a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles with Leung by battling past UNW junior Carson Haack 6-4, 7-5 at No. 1 singles. Alireza added his second singles win of the afternoon with his 6-3, 6-1 win over senior Griffin Jarchow at No. 2 singles, while Finestone also posted his second singles win of the day with a 6-3, 6-4 decision at No. 4 singles over Thomforde.
Coach's Corner
"Today was the epitome of two team wins," said Emerson head coach Burke Paxton. "The whole team played today through the two matches and we needed each one to fight. Having back-to-back matches in 87-degree weather is tough, and everyone did their part. I am really proud of how hard this team fought today."
Up Next
Emerson (4-5, 0-0 NEWMAC) has two days off before wrapping up its spring trip against Transylvania University at the USTA National Campus on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
For the latest on Emerson Athletics, follow the Lions via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as well as online at emersonlions.com powered by SIDEARM Sports.
