Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 22 UCLA 4-3

Sunday, April 27

Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State

#22 UCLA

Buckeyes Drop Heartbreaker to No. 22 UCLA 4-3

4/27/2025 4:30:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a battle between the top two teams in the Big Ten, No. 22 UCLA pulled out the narrowest of victories, winning the Big Ten Tournament title by a score of 4-3.

The match came down to a third set on court two between Alexander Bernard and Emon van Loben Sels. Both players traded breaks early in the set but then van Loben Sels took advantage of a controversial point and would push through to a 6-3 victory.

The loss was just the third of the year for the Buckeyes who advanced to the Big Ten Tournament final for the 21st consecutive year.

Preston Stearns won all three of his singles matches this weekend while Bryce Nakashima went 2-0 and they were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Doubles

UCLA held the upper hand throughout the doubles point on all three courts.
The Bruins got wins on courts two and three to take the point.

Singles

Bryce Nakashima got a big first point for the Buckeyes as he took down No. 32 Spencer Johnson 6-2, 6-4 on court five.
Aidan Kim made it 2-1 Buckeyes as he rallied for a 7-6(3), 6-2 win over No. 21 Rudy Quan on court one. That was his 12th win over a ranked opponent this season.
UCLA evened the score with a win on court three but then Stearns claimed his third victory on the weekend with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win over No. 108 Aadarsh Tripathi on court six.
Jack Anthrop battled Alexander Hoogmartens into the third set but would fall 6-4 in the deciding set and the score was again even at 3-3.
The match between Bernard and van Loben Sels had it all. Bernard lost the opening set in a tiebreaker and then came back from down 5-2 in the second to win the set 7-5. The momentum from winning the set faded as he dropped the first two games of the third set. But he then fought back to win the next two to draw even at 2-2. van Loben Sels again won the next two games to take a 4-2 lead. Bernard broke back for 4-3 but couldn’t hold serve and fell behind 5-3. van Loben Sels then served out the match to give UCLA the title.

Up Next

The NCAA Selection Show is at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28 and that’s where the Buckeyes will find out their NCAA Tournament matchup.

#22 UCLA 4, #6 Ohio State 3

Singles
1. #12 Aidan Kim (OSU) def. #21 Rudy Quan (UCLA) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
2. #110 Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. #62 Alexander Bernard (OSU) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-3
3. Kaylan Bigun (UCLA) def. Will Jansen (OSU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Alexander Hoogmartens (UCLA) def. #101 Jack Anthrop (OSU) 7-5, 0-6, 6-4
5. Bryce Nakashima (OSU) def. #32 Spencer Johnson (UCLA) 6-2, 6-4
6. Preston Stearns (OSU) def. #108 Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2

Doubles
1. Aidan Kim/Will Jansen (OSU) vs. A. Hoogmartens/Giacomo Revelli (UCLA) 4-5, unfinished
2. Spencer Johnson/Aadarsh Tripathi (UCLA) def. Brandon Carpico/Nikita Filin (OSU) 6-2
3. Gianluca Ballotta/Emon van Loben Sels (UCLA) def. Alexander Bernard/Bryce Nakashima (OSU) 6-4

Match Notes:
UCLA 16-8; National ranking #22
Ohio State 26-3; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,1,3,6,4,2)
Official: Douglas Rice T-3:32

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