Ohio State
University of California
No. 3 Buckeyes Down California, Host Super Regional Friday
5/2/2026 6:30:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Ohio State will host Illinois Friday, May 8
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 3 Ohio State topped No. 42 California, 4-0, Saturday at the Auer Tennis Complex in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes advance to face No. 14 Illinois next Friday in the Columbus Super Regional.
The win marks the Buckeyes 75th victory in the NCAA Tournament in program history. Ohio State has now advanced past the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time in its previous 26 appearances.
The Buckeyes improved to 31-4 on the season and 18-1 at home. It was Ohio State's 15th sweep at home and its 20th of the season.
Doubles action saw wins on courts two and three. Alexander Bernard and Alex Okonkwo got back in the win column with a 6-4 win while Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima earned their 11th-consecutive win as a pair in a 7-3 tiebreaker match.
In singles competition, Jack Anthrop, Aidan Kim and Nikita Filin all earned two-set victories on courts one, three and four. Anthrop, Kim and Filin all led the Buckeyes, earning three total victories each on the weekend.
The three single wins clinched a 4-0 sweep over California and advanced the Buckeyes to the Super Regional where they will face the winner of No. 14 Illinois and No. 24 Vanderbilt.
Doubles
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In three tightly contested doubles matches, the scores were 6-6 on court one, 4-4 on court two and 6-6 on court three before the Buckeyes pulled ahead.
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On court two, Alexander Bernard and Alex Okonkwo earned a 6-4 win to get back in the win column and grab their 17th victory of the dual season.
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Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima were up 4-2 on court three before the Golden Bears climbed back and gained a 6-5 lead. The Buckeye pair battled back and earned a 6-6 tie where Kim and Nakashima were victorious in a dominant 7-3 tiebreaker that clinched the doubles point for Ohio State.
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On court one, Nikita Filin and Brandon Carpico were up 5-3 before California's No. 30 doubles pair of Alex Aney and Timofey Stepanov tied it up at 5-all, the match headed into a tiebreaker where the Ohio State duo was up 3-2 when the point was clinched.
Singles
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Aidan Kim collected a quick 6-1 set one win before being down 1-3 in the second set. Kim then won 5-consecutive games to earn his 13th victory against nationally ranked opponents and to clinch the first singles victory for the Buckeyes.
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On court four, Nikita Filin was right behind Kim as he grabbed a 6-2, 6-3 win for his 18th-consecutive singles victory.
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To clinch the match, Jack Anthrop went 6-3 in the first set and 6-2 in the second set, advancing Ohio State to the Super Regional next weekend.
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Alexander Bernard and Bryce Nakashima were all up a set when the match was clinched while Preston Stearns was down a set when Jack Anthrop clinched the victory for the Buckeyes.
#3 Ohio State 4, #42 California 0
Singles
1. #11 Aidan Kim (OSU) def. #62 Fryderyk Lechno-Wasiutynski (CAL) 6-1, 6-3
2. #31 Preston Stearns (OSU) vs. Timofey Stepanov (CAL) 5-7, 1-4, unfinished
3. #32 Jack Anthrop (OSU) def. Tiago Silva (CAL) 6-3, 6-2
4. #95 Nikita Filin (OSU) def. Bernardo Munk-Mesa (CAL) 6-2, 6-3
5. Bryce Nakashima (OSU) vs. Paris Pouatcha (CAL) 6-3, 4-3, unfinished
6. Alexander Bernard (OSU) vs. Lenn Luemkemann 6-4, 1-5, unfinished
Doubles
1. #8 Brandon Carpico/Nikita Filin (OSU) vs. #30 Alex Aney/Timofey Stepanov (CAL) 6-6 (3-2), unfinished
2. #44 Alexander Bernard/Alex Okonkwo (OSU) def. Fryderyk Lechno-Wasiutynski/Tiago Silva (CAL) 6-4
3. #45 Aidan Kim/Bryce Nakashima (OSU) def. Bernardo Munk-Mesa/Paris Pouatcha (CAL) 7-6(3)
Match Notes:
California 17-14; National ranking #42
Ohio State 31-4; National ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (1,4,3)
A- 635 T- 2:12
#GoBucks
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
1,4,3
Players Mentioned
