Owls Tennis makes school history with first UMAC championship bids
MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Wisconsin-Stout’s women’s and men’s tennis teams will compete Friday in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championships at the Baseline Tennis Center. This marks their first-ever appearance in the UMAC tournament, as both teams previously only advanced as far as the division level.
The Owls will face Wisconsin-Superior, which claimed the UMAC North titles for both men and women. The women’s semifinal begins at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s match at 4:30 p.m. The top two teams from each division qualified for the UMAC final.
Both teams advanced last weekend to their respective finals in the South division — the men’s team defeated Webster University 4-0, and the women upset Principia 4-2. Both lost in the final to Greenville University, the top seed in the South. Coach Hayden Embry, in his first year leading the programs, said the teams’ success is historic for the school.
Embry noted both teams set new school records for victories this season. The men’s team is 11-7, while the women’s team improved to 7-10 after their win over Principia. “This is a really special moment for our program because it’s the first time in school history we’ve had both teams reach this stage and compete for a championship opportunity,” Embry said.
Embry, who took over last June, recruited several new players to strengthen the teams. The women’s roster includes seniors Brooklyn Ward and Emma Horton, juniors Austin Hays and Kayleigh Griffin, sophomore Alaina Mathis, and freshmen Bailey Flynn and Harley Lowry. The men’s team features international players such as Jorge Ortiz Catala, Ian Costobel, Marcos Fernandez, Juan Garcia, and Sandro Giangregorio, along with returnee Tyler Bailey and transfer Dylan Barber.
“The transfers have made a significant impact,” Embry said. “They embraced our culture and standards, built chemistry, and helped us reach this point.” He praised both teams for their resilience and focus. “They’ve competed for each other and represented The W well,” he added.
The teams’ historic season reflects a broader effort to elevate the program under Embry’s leadership. The Owls aim to continue their momentum at the UMAC championships and beyond.
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