Kansas City, MO – The University of the Cumberlands men's tennis team has secured a spot in the 2026 NAIA National Championships, the national office announced Tuesday. Cumberlands earned the No. 8 seed in the tournament field, marking the highest seed in program history for the Patriots at the NAIA National Championships. With the No. 8 seed, UC also receives its first-ever first-round bye in program history. 

The Patriots enter the tournament with a 16-8 overall record and posted a 5-1 mark in conference play. UC closed out the regular season as Mid-South Conference runner-ups and continued to establish itself as one of the top teams in the nation heading into postseason play. 

Cumberlands has been led by strong performances throughout the lineup this season. Kesia Roi holds the best singles record on the team at 16-5, while Gabriele Solda and Thibaud Vivier have also been key contributors with records of 13-7 and 13-6, respectively. Jacopo Cianfarini and Darius Kuster have also been impressive, both with 9-10 records, primarily at the No. 1 and 2 singles positions. 

In doubles play, Darius Kuster and Gabriele Solda have led the way for the Patriots, posting a 15-7 record together at the No. 1 spot, while Jacopo Cianfarini and Mohammed Abuzed Saber hold a 14-7 record at No. 2. At No. 3, Manuel Fernandez Guede and Kesia Roi post the best doubles record of the lineup at 11-1 on the year. Their consistency has helped anchor Cumberlands throughout the spring season. 

The first-round bye adds another milestone for the program, as it is the first time in school history the Patriots have advanced directly into the second round of the national tournament. Combined with the highest seed in program history, the selection highlights the continued growth and national success of Cumberlands men's tennis.   

With the first-round bye, UC advances directly to the second round and will face the winner of No. 9 seed Holy Cross (Ind.) and No. 24 seed Saint Mary (Kan.) on Wednesday, May 13th at 9:00 a.m. CT. 

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