Navy Tennis Shines at Patriot League ITA Qualifier as Men’s Doubles Reach Final, Women’s Singles Advance to Quarterfinals
By Brian Hradsky
WEST POINT, N.Y. — The United States Naval Academy men’s and women’s tennis teams produced several impressive performances at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Conference Masters Patriot League Qualifier, held October 23–25 at Army West Point. Navy’s men’s doubles pairing of Lachlan Buckingham and Ethan Garcia advanced to the championship match, while women’s standouts Grace Li and Nicole Fu each reached the singles quarterfinals. Although the Midshipmen finished the tournament without a championship, both programs demonstrated their ability to compete against some of the Patriot League’s strongest players.
The tournament brought together representatives from across the Patriot League, with singles and doubles competitors battling for opportunities to advance to the ITA Conference Masters Championship in Rome, Georgia. The competition also provided an important measuring stick for Navy as both programs continued developing their lineups during the fall season. Navy’s four representatives combined for multiple victories against conference opponents, highlighted by a particularly strong men’s doubles performance.
Buckingham and Garcia Reach Men’s Doubles Championship
Navy’s most significant achievement came from Buckingham and Garcia, who advanced through the men’s doubles bracket to reach Sunday’s championship match. The Midshipmen tandem entered the tournament with limited experience playing together, making its run to the final especially encouraging. Buckingham and Garcia earned a first-round bye before defeating Holy Cross and Bucknell to secure a championship opportunity against Lehigh.
Their tournament began with an 8-4 quarterfinal victory over Holy Cross representatives Ezequiel de la Plaza and Aayush Jhaveri. Navy controlled enough of the match to advance without requiring an extended finish, setting up a semifinal meeting against Bucknell’s Brady Friesen and Enoch Lin. Buckingham and Garcia continued their successful run with an 8-5 victory, earning a spot in the tournament’s final.
Sunday’s championship featured Navy against Lehigh’s Rafael Gracie and Alex Van Lumich, with the Patriot League’s doubles qualifying berth on the line. Buckingham and Garcia pushed their opponents throughout a closely contested match but ultimately fell 9-7. The narrow defeat ended Navy’s championship hopes, while Gracie and Van Lumich secured advancement to the ITA Conference Masters Championship.
Despite falling just short of the title, Buckingham and Garcia finished the tournament with two doubles victories and a runner-up result. Their performance was particularly noteworthy because the qualifier marked their first time competing together as a doubles team during the fall season. The combination demonstrated potential that could become valuable when Navy returns to dual-match competition.
Navy Men’s Singles Competitors Reach Quarterfinals
Buckingham and Garcia also represented Navy in the men’s singles competition, with both players advancing to the quarterfinals. Each received an opening-round bye before winning a round-of-16 match against a Patriot League opponent. Their individual performances added to an encouraging weekend for Navy’s men’s program.
Buckingham opened his singles competition against Lafayette’s Andreas Foong and earned a convincing 6-4, 6-1 victory. He subsequently faced Army’s Jimin Jung in the quarterfinals, where Jung secured a 6-2, 6-4 win. Buckingham’s tournament ended one round short of the semifinals, but he finished with a singles victory and two doubles wins.
Garcia encountered a more difficult opening singles match against Army’s Davis McDonald, requiring three sets to advance. After dropping the opening set 2-6, Garcia responded with a 6-4 second-set victory and captured the deciding set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7-5). His comeback earned him a quarterfinal meeting with Lehigh’s Alex Van Lumich, who prevailed 6-1, 6-1.
Van Lumich also played a significant role in Navy’s doubles championship defeat, partnering with Gracie to capture the title. Garcia’s singles comeback against McDonald nevertheless provided one of Navy’s strongest individual efforts of the tournament. Both Midshipmen men’s representatives ultimately reached the quarterfinals in singles and combined to reach the doubles final.
Grace Li Produces Strong Women’s Singles Run
On the women’s side, junior Grace Li put together an impressive singles performance that included victories over Holy Cross and Colgate. Li began her tournament against Holy Cross representative Phoebe Devine and controlled the match from the opening set. She earned a 6-0, 6-3 victory to advance to the round of 16.
Li then faced Colgate’s Rebecca Hess in a considerably more competitive match that required three sets. After winning the opening set 6-0, Li dropped the second set in a tiebreaker, 6-7 (4), before responding with a decisive 6-1 third-set victory. The result secured her place in the quarterfinals and demonstrated her ability to recover after losing momentum during a match.
The quarterfinal round presented Li with one of the tournament’s toughest assignments, reigning Patriot League singles champion Maggie Forkner of Lehigh. Li challenged Forkner throughout a competitive opening set before falling in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (5). Forkner then won the second set 6-3 to end Li’s tournament.
Although Li did not advance to the semifinals, her performance represented a productive weekend against quality conference competition. Her three-set victory over Hess and competitive opening set against the defending league champion were encouraging results. As a 2026 Second Team All-Patriot League selection, Li remains an important part of Navy’s women’s tennis lineup.
Nicole Fu Advances to Women’s Quarterfinals
Sophomore Nicole Fu also reached the women’s singles quarterfinals, continuing to build on her recognition as the 2026 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Fu received an opening-round bye before facing Lafayette’s Marie Sofia Romaniello in the round of 16. She delivered one of the most dominant individual results of the tournament, winning 6-0, 6-0 to advance.
The straight-set victory sent Fu into a quarterfinal matchup against Boston University’s Gabriella Sadowski. Sadowski controlled the opening set 6-0, but Fu responded with a much stronger second-set performance. Despite the improvement, Sadowski secured a 7-5 second-set victory to eliminate the Navy sophomore.
Fu’s quarterfinal appearance added another encouraging result to her young collegiate career. She entered the event having already earned significant Patriot League recognition during the previous spring season. Her performance against Lafayette demonstrated her potential to remain among Navy’s important singles contributors moving forward.
Navy Women’s Doubles Pair Falls to Colgate
Li and Fu also joined forces in the women’s doubles draw, entering the tournament with an opening-round bye. Their quarterfinal opponent was Colgate’s sister combination of Sophia and Mila Montero. The Raiders pairing defeated Navy 8-4, ending the Midshipmen’s women’s doubles championship hopes.
Although the doubles result was disappointing, Navy’s women’s representatives found considerably more success in singles competition. Li and Fu combined for three singles victories, with Li earning two wins and Fu adding another. Their quarterfinal appearances provided valuable experience against several of the Patriot League’s strongest competitors.
The women’s championship matches concluded Sunday, with Army’s Emily Ruckno capturing the singles title over Forkner. Ruckno also teamed with Olivia Mellynchuk to win the doubles championship. Army’s sweep highlighted the competitive challenge Navy will face against its conference rival during the upcoming spring season.
What’s Next for Navy Tennis?
The ITA Conference Masters Patriot League Qualifier served as an important late-fall opportunity for Navy’s men’s and women’s tennis programs. The tournament’s champions earned the opportunity to advance to the ITA Conference Masters Championship, scheduled for November 5–8 in Rome, Georgia. Although Navy did not secure a qualifying berth, its representatives gained experience against conference opponents they could encounter again during the spring season.
Navy’s women’s tennis program will conclude its fall schedule by hosting the Navy Blinds on October 31 and November 1 in Annapolis. The men’s team will wrap up its fall competition with the Navy Invite, scheduled for November 5–7. Both events provide additional opportunities to evaluate individual performances and doubles combinations before the transition toward spring competition.
For the men’s program, Buckingham and Garcia’s championship appearance offers an encouraging development in doubles competition. Their ability to win two matches together during their first tournament as a fall pairing provides a potential foundation for future success. On the women’s side, Li and Fu demonstrated their singles abilities while gaining additional experience against established Patriot League opponents.
MSB Take: Navy Shows Encouraging Depth Heading Toward Spring
Navy’s weekend in West Point should be viewed as a positive step for both tennis programs, even without a tournament championship. Buckingham and Garcia’s run to the doubles final was the standout accomplishment, particularly considering their limited experience as a pairing. Their narrow championship defeat against Lehigh suggests Navy has a doubles combination worth continuing to develop.
The women’s performances were encouraging for different reasons, especially with Li and Fu both reaching the singles quarterfinals. Li demonstrated resilience in her three-set victory over Colgate, while Fu delivered a dominant performance against Lafayette. Their results indicate Navy has established players capable of competing with quality Patriot League opposition.
The next challenge will be translating these fall tournament performances into consistent results during the spring season. Navy has shown promising individual talent and a potentially productive men’s doubles combination, but team success will require contributions throughout the lineup. If the Midshipmen build on their West Point performances, both programs could enter conference competition with greater confidence and valuable experience.
