SEA LIONS HUNGRY FOR MORE IN 2026

(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Men’s Tennis has made three-straight NCAA West Regional appearances for the first time in program history.

Point Loma is hungry to extend that streak this year.

“I'm excited for the men's season,” Head Coach Curt Wheeler said. “They're very hungry and motivated to be the best team in the conference this year and to make a run in nationals. I've seen it day-in and day-out with their work ethic. They have the ability, so I'm excited to see that in big matches coming up.”

Wheeler highlighted the depth of the group this season.

“Our depth is going to be a big strength for us,” Wheeler said. “There’s not going to be many teams that can compete with us [in that way]. The intensity of practice is there for sure and they're pushing each other a lot.

“All of them have different game styles, so it’s different things that they're practicing against. They probably know if they have a bad couple weeks, they could be moving down (in the lineup). Not as a threat, it's just the reality of how deep and consistent the level is.”

Of the team’s eight players, four are returning and four are new to the group this year.

“We lost a huge core of our team that had led us to a lot of success, but with the guys that we have coming back and the experience they've gotten over the last couple of years, then the new 4 four that we added, I’m very excited about the ability and the talent that they have,” Wheeler said. “Now it's just turning that into playing our best tennis when it matters.”

PLNU welcomes back All-PacWest players Finn Kirschner and David Fisinger, along with Leo Bormann and Darius Moinian.

“The returners have been a part of that run that we've had over the last three years of regional appearances, so they've been in big matches and they've seen their teammates compete in big matches,” Wheeler said. “They're ready to step into that role of being the experienced ones to lead the group.”

New to the team this year are transfers Stanislas Noel (Edinboro), who reached the ITA West Regional singles quarterfinals in the fall, and Paul Sobich (Montevallo), as well as freshmen Rhyson Chiang and Marcos Alogo-Piqueras.

“Two of the four new guys have had at least two years of college tennis experience already from where they're coming from, and being here now they're ready to contribute,” Wheeler said. “Then the two freshmen have been already in that atmosphere from the fall regional and from the first week of practice, so they're excited and hungry to contribute as well.”

Point Loma, picked fourth in the PacWest Preseason Poll, opens its 2026 schedule on Saturday against NCAA Division I Wofford at 11 a.m. on the PLNU Tennis Courts.

The Sea Lions will play against conference foes Azusa Pacific and Biola twice each, once at home and once on the road, while also matching up against Division I opponents Colgate (March 16), Northern Arizona (March 19) and Saint Mary’s (March 31).

Point Loma will conclude its regular season with four-straight matches away from home before the top six seeds in the PacWest will compete in the PacWest Championships April 15-17 in Surprise, Arizona, also the host of this year's NCAA Championships.

The winner of the conference tournament will earn the PacWest’s automatic berth into the NCAA West Regional.

Four teams will play in the regional, with the winner of both regional matches advancing to the NCAA Championships, where 16 teams will compete for a national title at the Surprise Tennis Center.

For the team’s full schedule, click HERE.