The men’s tennis program delivered one of its most dynamic performances in recent memory this weekend at the 2025 NCAA Individual Championships in Orlando, Fla., where senior Mans Dahlberg and junior Dylan Dietrich captured the doubles national title and the Cavaliers produced several statement singles runs that reaffirmed the program’s standing among the nation’s best college tennis programs.
The results in Orlando underscored what the college tennis world has come to expect from Virginia — when it comes to doubles, the Cavaliers set the standard. After a spring season spent experimenting with new pairings, adjusting formations and testing strategies across different courts, Virginia has mastered the art of doubles. And once again, the Cavaliers left with a national title.
At the center of the week’s success was the doubles title won by Dahlberg and Dietrich, whose partnership — built on years of shared experiences, brother-like chemistry and complementing play styles — culminated in a national championship that felt both inevitable and hard-earned. Their victory in the final, a clean 7-6(3), 6-2 win over Ohio State’s sophomore duo of Nikita Filin and Brandon Carpico, placed them alongside a small group of legendary Virginia doubles teams that have etched their names into program history.
For Dahlberg, the achievement carried an added layer of emotion, marking his second national title at the USTA National Campus, the same site where he won the 2023 NCAA Team Championship as a freshman. Returning to Orlando two years later as a senior and leaving with another trophy made the moment especially meaningful.
Their path to the championship showcased the depth and steadiness of Dietrich and Dahlberg’s game. After opening the tournament with a dominant straight-sets win over Oklahoma, they immediately faced their toughest challenge of the draw against the top-seeded Mississippi State senior duo of Benito Sanchez Martinez and Petar Jovanovic. Dahlberg and Dietrich’s 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory in that Round of 16 match was a breakthrough, proving they possessed the firepower to handle one of the strongest teams.
Their quarterfinal match against Ohio State’s junior duo of Aidan Kim and Bryce Nakashima demanded more out of the Cavaliers. After dropping the first set in a tiebreak, the Cavaliers elevated their level when the pressure reached its peak, winning a second-set tiebreak and carrying that momentum into a decisive 10-5 match tiebreak.
Their semifinal performance against Florida senior Tanapatt Nirundorn and junior Henry Jefferson was clinical, as they imposed their patterns early and closed out a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory.
By the time they reached the final, their confidence and rhythm were unmistakable. Winning the championship felt like the culmination of years of development, trust and a friendship that translates seamlessly onto the court. Dietrich celebrated the win as “surreal,” especially with his parents and teammates watching, while Dahlberg reflected on returning to the venue where his college tennis journey truly began.
He added that it was “great seeing Dylan and Keegan [Rice] battle in singles” and that lifting a title alongside his close friend made the moment even more meaningful.
The championship earned them both All-American honors, further solidifying themselves as one of the best doubles teams in Virginia history and in the nation.
Virginia’s dominance extended beyond doubles, as the Cavaliers also produced three strong showings in the singles draw. Dietrich, seeded ninth, advanced to the Round of 16 for the second consecutive year after controlling his first two matches with his steady baseline aggression and point construction. His opening-round win over Oklahoma senior Luis Carlos Alvarez Valdes set the tone, and he followed it with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Mississippi State sophomore Bryan Hernandez Cortes.
In the Round of 16, he stormed through the first set 6-2 against Wake Forest junior Luca Pow, but Pow responded with counterpunches that turned the match around in the final two sets. Despite the loss, Dietrich’s overall performance showed why he is considered one of the most dangerous players in college tennis. His results secured yet another singles All-American distinction, the third of his career.
Pedroso emphasized that “Dylan can beat anyone,” pointing to his previous results and his consistent belief in his ability to compete with the strongest players in the country.
The most electrifying moment of the singles tournament for Virginia came from sophomore Keegan Rice, who delivered one of the biggest upsets of the week when he defeated No. 1 seed Jay Friend of Arizona 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the Round of 32. Rice entered the event with strong momentum from fall tournaments, and after rallying from a set down to defeat Oklahoma sophomore Oscar Lacides in the opening round, he carried that confidence into his showdown with Friend, dictating rallies with variety, mixing pace, and handling pressure points. Rice’s run ended in the Round of 16 with two 7-5 sets against Petar Jovanovic, but his overall performance earned him his first career singles All-American honor.
What stands out most about Rice though, is the speed of his development. As a sophomore, he is already competing at a level that mirrors ATP Challenger competition — a point echoed by Pedroso, who has emphasized that Rice is beginning to realize he can compete with, and defeat, players ranked inside the top 300 in the world, becoming one of the most dangerous and dynamic players in college tennis.
Sophomore Jangjun Kim also made his NCAA singles debut, drawing an extremely challenging opening-round matchup against No. 8 seed Ozan Baris of Michigan State. Though he fell 6-2, 7-6 (4), Kim showed significant growth by pushing Baris deep into the second set tiebreak and staying competitive against one of the most powerful ball strikers in the game.
His appearance in the tournament reflected the enormous strides he has taken over the past year. Kim has become known within the program for his consistency, resilience, and relentless work ethic. Coaches often describe him as a quiet worker, someone they frequently see pedaling on the bike or training alone, fully committed to elevating every part of his game.
“I’ll be telling the Kim story for a long time after he graduates,” Pedroso said, a reflection of how deeply Kim’s growth has resonated within the program.
Taken together, Virginia’s results in Orlando portray a program operating with balance and upward momentum. Pedroso repeatedly emphasized that all three singles players “can beat anyone,” and the Cavaliers proved exactly that on the national stage.
With a national championship secured, multiple All-American honors earned, and invaluable experience gained across the roster, Virginia left Orlando not only with hardware but with an unmistakable sense of promise. As the team prepares for the spring dual-match season, the Cavaliers stand positioned once again as a major contender in college tennis.
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