BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The College of Coastal Georgia men's tennis team makes its return to the national stage this week, heading to Mobile, Alabama, for the 74th Annual UTR Sports NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship at the Mobile Tennis Center. The Mariners, ranked No. 18 nationally, open first-round play Tuesday, May 12, against Dillard University (La.) at 10 a.m. CT.
The 24-team championship field also features No. 1 seed Georgia Gwinnett — the dominant force in NAIA men's tennis — along with perennial contenders Keiser (Fla.), Tennessee Wesleyan, and Southeastern (Fla.). Georgia Gwinnett, which handled the Mariners 7-0 when the two met in March, received a first-round bye as the tournament's top seed.
A SEASON OF GROWTH
Coastal Georgia finishes the regular season at 10-7 overall. The Mariners went 5-0 in neutral-site matches and picked up quality wins over then-No. 10 SCAD-Savannah (4-1), No. 15 Marian University (4-0), and Ave Maria and Florida National on the road. The team hit its stride during a five-match winning streak in early March, showcasing the depth and quality that earned the program its national tournament berth.
THE PONS MEDINA BROTHERS LEAD THE WAY
Senior Artur Pons Medina is the unquestioned anchor of the Coastal Georgia lineup. The Valencia, Spain native earned NAIA Men's Tennis Player of the Week honors in March after going 4-0 in singles and doubles over the course of three matches — including a commanding 6-0, 6-0 demolition of a nationally ranked Marian opponent at the No. 1 position. His combination of baseline consistency, competitive resilience, and leadership make him one of the more dangerous No. 1 singles players in the field.
His younger brother, junior Salvador Pons Medina, has been equally formidable at No. 2 singles and is a fixture alongside Artur at the top doubles position. The two have been one of the most effective doubles tandems in the NAIA this spring. Senior Gonzalo Tano (Mendoza, Argentina) rounds out the upperclassman core, with a young and globally diverse lineup behind them — sophomores Caspar Grylls (England), Max Kirmayr (Brazil), Leonardo Marin (Brazil), Leonardo Ciriaci (Italy), and Valentin Buerger (Germany), along with freshmen Leonard Daguinot and Geronimo Gonzalez Dolci adding depth and energy.
SCOUTING DILLARD
The Bleu Devils of New Orleans come into the championship with a recent history of tournament appearances and have made their presence felt in the NAIA men's tennis landscape, cracking the coaches' Top 25 in recent seasons. Coached by Meenakshi Sundaram, Dillard has consistently been competitive in the Red River Athletic Conference and brings a battle-tested roster to Mobile. The Bleu Devils lost a close 5-2 decision to the University of New Orleans in their season opener but have shown the ability to compete with NAIA tournament-caliber programs throughout the year.
THE PATH FORWARD
A win Tuesday would send the Mariners into Wednesday's second round. The bracket features a challenging road through potential matchups with higher seeds, but Coastal Georgia has shown throughout this season that it can compete on the national stage. With the Pons Medina brothers leading the charge and a roster full of international talent, the Mariners have the firepower to make noise in Mobile.
First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT Tuesday at the Mobile Tennis Center.
