Air Force Rallies To Defeat North Dakota 5-2 On Senior Day

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's tennis came from behind to defeat North Dakota (13-9), 5-2, in non-conference action on Senior Day this Sunday morning at the USAFA Outdoor Tennis Courts. The Falcons (9-11) have won three of its last four and secured a winning season at home.

North Dakota took an early 1-0 lead, before the Falcons went 5-1 in singles to pull out the win.

After Phillip Deaton and Matthew Staton opened doubles with a win at No. 3 over Galliano/Wilber 6-3, UND responded by winning at No. 1 and No. 2 to take the doubles point.

Air Force quickly tied the match up at 1-1 in singes, as Staton made quick work of Cole Wilber at No. 6, winning in straight sets 6-0, 6-1. Jack Brown made it a 2-1 match after his win at No. 3 over Justin Illic in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

North Dakota tied it up at 2-2 with a win at No. 2.

The Falcons re-took the lead as Langdon Tingleaf won at No. 4 in three sets over Kotaro Matsumura 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. A.J. Moore then clinched for the Falcons, winning at No. 1 in three sets over Leo Galliano 6-1, 5-7, 6-3. Alec Fritzinger closed the match out with a win at No. 5 in three sets over Christos Alex 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3.

Air Force caps its home slate with a 6-5 record, for its second-straight season with a winning home record. Prior to the match, Air Force honored its senior class. Jack Brown, Phillip Deaton and A.J. Moore make up the senior class of 2026.

"What a senior day for our team!," head coach Evan Urbina said. "There were so many momentum shifts in that match and we had to handle all the different pressure moments well in order to win. Jack, Phil, and AJ have done so much for our program. I'm grateful to be their coach. Go Falcons!"

The Falcons wraps up the regular season on Friday, April 17 at New Mexico.

North Dakota vs. Air Force (AF 5-2)
Singles
AJ Moore (AF) def. Leo Galliano (UND) 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
Darrsh Suresh Kumar (UND) def. Phillip Deaton (AF) 6-3, 6-3
Jack Brown (AF) def. Justin Ilic (UND) 6-2, 6-4
Langdon Tingleaf (AF) def. Kotaro Matsumura (UND) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Alec Fritzinger (AF) def. Christos Alex (UND) 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3
Matthew Staton (AF) def. Cole Wilber (UND) 6-0, 6-1
Order: 6, 3, 2, 4, 1, 5

Doubles
Christos Alex and Darrsh Suresh Kumar (UND) def. AJ Moore and Langdon Tingleaf (AF) 7-5
Justin Ilic and Kotaro Matsumura (UND) def. Jack Brown and Alec Fritzinger (AF) 7-6 (5)
Phillip Deaton and Matthew Staton (AF) def. Leo Galliano and Cole Wilber (UND) 6-3
Order: 3, 1, 2

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