Texas Tech Men's Tennis Falls to No. 8 Arizona

Red Raiders force three sets in all six singles matches but come up short against the Wildcats

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:51pm

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Despite pushing No. 8 Arizona to the brink in a closely contested match, the Texas Tech men's tennis team fell 4-1 to the Wildcats on Sunday afternoon. The Red Raiders forced three sets in all six singles matches and played four tiebreaker sets, but ultimately came up short against the highly-ranked Arizona squad.

Why it matters

This loss drops Texas Tech to 12-10 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play, making it an uphill battle to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. However, the Red Raiders' ability to push a top-10 team to the limit shows their potential and competitiveness, which could pay dividends down the stretch.

The details

Arizona opened the match by winning the doubles point, but Texas Tech evened it up with a win on court two. In singles, the Wildcats took a 3-0 lead before Ludovico Vaccari earned a ranked victory for the Red Raiders at court three. However, Arizona clinched the match with a win at the top court.

  • The match took place on Sunday, April 5, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas.

The players

Texas Tech Red Raiders

The men's tennis team from Texas Tech University, currently ranked No. 66 nationally.

Arizona Wildcats

The men's tennis team from the University of Arizona, currently ranked No. 8 nationally.

Ludovico Vaccari

A Texas Tech player who earned a ranked victory over No. 82 Alexander Rozin of Arizona.

Jay Friend

The No. 4-ranked player for Arizona who clinched the match for the Wildcats.

Niksa Arsic

A Texas Tech player who took the first set against No. 4 Jay Friend before falling in three sets.

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What’s next

The Red Raiders will host the Baylor Bears at the McLeod Tennis Center on Thursday, April 9 at 5 p.m. for senior day.

The takeaway

This match highlighted the competitiveness of the Texas Tech men's tennis team, who were able to push a top-10 opponent to the brink despite the eventual loss. The Red Raiders' ability to force three-set matches and tiebreakers against a highly-ranked foe shows their potential and bodes well for their chances of making a late-season push for the NCAA Tournament.