ATLANTA, Ga. — No. 33 Averett University men's tennis opened the 2025 NCAA Division III Tournament with a 4-0 sweep over Asbury University on Friday morning at the Woodruff PE Center Tennis Courts, hosted by Emory University.

Picking up right where it left off from last weekend after winning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship, Averett (17-4) charged through doubles, clearing the top two lineups from Asbury (13-4) in under 30 minutes to take the 1-0 lead. Winning the doubles point generated a slew of momentum for the team. 

"It was really important, it takes a lot of pressure off you when you get that doubles point," Averett head coach Bert Poole said. "We got a good start in singles, but that had to be earned, and our guys really did that."

Freshman Rafael Jodas and junior Sam Egui's strong partnership continued, winning their 14th match together this season, versus the Eagles' Ben Moore and Andres Cacares, 6-0. Senior Jaeden Mukkaladyil and junior Prabjeet Chandhok dropped only a game to defeat Franco Patino and Ignacio Ardiles, 6-1. 

Reaching the 20-win mark in an impressive season, Mukkaladyil was the first player to finish in singles, downing Moore, 6-2, 6-1. Then, Jodas defeated Cacares, 6-1, 6-2, putting the Cougars a point away from advancing in the bracket against Asbury, the champion of the Collegiate Conference of the South.

Chandhok capped the dual match and the sweep by taking down Ardiles 6-4, 6-1, sending the team to the second round. Despite not finishing, freshman Roger Pamies Petit put together a solid performance for his first singles match since April 1, up 6-4 on Alejo Britos. Bert, playing at No. 3, was just a game away from a win, 6-2, 5-4 on Moore, and Satwik Kollepalli battled into a first set tiebreak with Caceres.

Dating back to 2000, the win over Asbury marks Averett's first NCAA Tournament win since defeating Sewanee 4-0 that same year, and third win all-time in the tournament.

"It's a really good win against a very good team," Poole remarked after the win. 

The national stage could make anyone nervous, including Mukkaladyil. He was up to the challenge.

"There's always nerves, but it was a big opportunity for us," Mukkaladyil said. "The way the guys handled it was absolutely amazing. Aside from some first point nerves, once we settled down, it was smooth sailing from there."

Chandhok knew with a point up from doubles, the team could progress on to the win from there.

"We were out there being fierce, being brave, and we did it," he said.

Court four was the destination for Averett's clinching win, and Chandhok was right at the center of it.

"It meant a lot," he said. "I was trying to not focus on the fact that my match could be the clinch, because it was close on the other courts. I got that chance, had great energy in the last game, and everyone ran towards me when I won, and it was great feelings all throughout."

A familiar foe awaits in the second round in No. 6 Emory. Ironically, the Eagles were the last opponent to defeat Averett in the postseason back in 2000 by a 5-2 margin. Averett looks to enact long-time vengeance tomorrow morning, where the two schools duke it out at 10 a.m. 

 



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