No. 5 Virginia advanced to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship semifinals with a 4-1 victory over No. 6 Mississippi State Thursday night. The 4-seed Cavaliers (26-4, 12-1 ACC) captured the doubles point and relied on clutch performances from the middle of the lineup to survive another tense postseason battle to take down the 5-seed Bulldogs (25-6, 11-3 SEC) for the second time this season, having won at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship by the same margin.
Virginia entered the quarterfinal matchup after a dramatic run through the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers dropped the doubles point and four first sets in a comeback win over No. 26 Columbia, then lost five first sets in a 4-2 victory against No. 13 South Carolina despite securing doubles.
During ESPN’s broadcast, commentators Alex Gruskin and Chris Halliores noted that Virginia had “really enjoyed the drama” of its 2026 postseason run, and would have to win on the margins to advance to the Final Four.
“Four first sets and doubles,” Halliores said before singles began. “And I think the team that can take two of those points is probably the team that walks out of here with the W.”
Virginia did exactly that.
The Cavalier struck first in doubles behind their top two courts. NCAA doubles champions and No. 12-ranked senior Mans Dahlberg and junior Dylan Dietrich continued their strong postseason form with a 6-3 win over No. 19 senior duo Benito Sanchez Martinez and Michal Novansky on Court 1. Dahlberg and Dietrich played with sharp chemistry throughout the match, controlling the center of the court early and using aggressive net play to keep Mississippi State on the defensive. Dietrich’s serving created several quick opportunities, while Dahlberg cleaned up points confidently at the net.
Moments later, sophomore Jangjun Kim and freshman Andres Santamarta Roig clinched the point with a 6-2 victory over sophomore Niccolo Baroni and senior Mario Martinez Serrano on Court 2. Kim dictated tempo from the baseline while Santamarta Roig’s movement and hands at the net consistently disrupted the Bulldogs’ rhythm.
The Bulldogs briefly threatened on court three, where sophomore pairing of Stiles Brockett and Keegan Rice were tied 5-5 when play was halted. Brockett and Rice recovered from an early deficit with aggression and composure before the doubles point was clinched elsewhere.
Mississippi State evened the dual quickly in singles. Freshman Raphael Vaksmann overwhelmed Brockett 6-1, 6-2 on Court 5 to put the Bulldogs on the board. Vaksmann controlled rallies from the baseline throughout the match and repeatedly forced Brockett into defensive positions. Brockett struggled to establish rhythm and often missed long while trying to counter Vaksmann’s pace.
Virginia regained the lead with No. 21 Rice at Line 2 singles. The Canadian second-year produced one of his cleanest performances of the postseason, defeating No. 13 senior Petar Jovanovic 6-3, 6-2. Rice dictated play early with heavy forehands and aggressive placements, repeatedly attacking Jovanovic’s backhand wing and stepping inside the baseline whenever possible. He served efficiently and showed composure during several extended rallies to put the Cavaliers ahead 2-1.
The top-ranked singles player in college tennis, Dietrich then extended Virginia’s advantage with a straight-set victory over No. 9 Sanchez Martinez on Court 1. Dietrich weathered several physical baseline exchanges before pulling away for a 6-4, 6-3 win that moved the Cavaliers within one point of the semifinals. After a tight opening set, Dietrich elevated his level behind cleaner serving and precise shot placement, using his backhand down the line effectively to open the court. He absorbed Sanchez Martinez’s pace well and consistently redirected rallies to stay in control of points.
The decisive point ultimately came from No. 58 Santamarta Roig on Court 4. Santamarta Roig capped another composed postseason performance with a 6-2, 7-6 (8) victory over No. 65 Martinez Serrano, clinching the match and sending Virginia into the final four. Santamarta Roig dominated the opening set with aggressive returning and confident shotmaking from both sides. In the second set, he fought through momentum swings and a tense tiebreak, repeatedly responding to pressure moments with composed baseline play.
The win left two remaining courts unfinished. On Court 6, Dahlberg rebounded after dropping the first set to sophomore Bryan Hernandez Cortes, eventually grinding out a 4-6, 6-2, 5-4 lead before the match was left unfinished. Dahlberg adjusted well after the opening set, extending rallies more patiently and using his forehand to push Hernandez Cortes deeper behind the baseline.
At the same time, No. 114 Kim battled through a rollercoaster match against No. 93 Baroni on Court 3. After taking the opening set 6-3, Kim dropped the second and fell behind in the third before stabilizing late. Kim showed resilience and regained control before the match went unfinished.
With the victory, Virginia will now advance to the NCAA semifinals, where the Cavaliers will face top-seeded Wake Forest at 1 p.m. in the third meeting between the two programs this season. The Demon Deacons (34-3, 12-1 ACC) handed Virginia two of its four losses this season, including defeats in both ACC play and the ACC Championship match. With a spot in the national championship on the line, Virginia will now have another opportunity against the team that has consistently stood in its path, and will look to prove that the third time is the charm.
Read More
Virginia cruises past Louisville, returns to .500 in ACC play
By Xander Tilock | 1 hours ago“Welcome back Eric Becker,” Coach Chris Pollard said postgame. “What an incredible job stepping back in after being out for close to a month. He played an unbelievable ballgame.”
Virginia softball begins the greatest show on dirt in Knoxville this weekend
By Cierra Lyles | 2 hours ago“We’re thankful we get to play another weekend together,” Hardin said. “We’re going to do everything we can to extend our season and stay together as long as possible.”
Breaking the ‘athlete bubble,’ a wrestler found greater purpose
By Lauren Halak | 3 hours ago“[Athletes] shouldn't just be athletes,” Montaperto said. “[There's] so many clubs here, so many interesting things to do here. I know everybody is more than just an athlete, right? More than just their sport.”
