Tantera, Sarudiansky Selected for Prestigious ITA Cup Field

HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Cup brought together some of the nation's top NAIA players October 16-19, with Huntington University graduate students Julian Tantera and Santiago Sarudiansky earning at-large selections to compete at the prestigious event held at the Rome Tennis Center in Rome, Georgia.

Tantera secured one of eight at-large bids after finishing as the runner-up at the Midwest ITA Regional Championships. His strong regional performance, coupled with a high national ranking from last season, earned him a spot among the elite field of 16 singles competitors. In first-round action, Tantera faced second-seeded Shaheed Alam of Keiser and battled through a tightly contested opening set before falling 7-6 (7-1), 6-1.

Sarudiansky also received an at-large invitation following his semifinal appearance at regionals and consistent high-level play throughout his collegiate career. He drew third-seeded Luis Francisco Sampedro of Georgia Gwinnett in the opening round and dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision.

In doubles, Tantera and Javier Lopez Real were named the first alternate pair after advancing to the semifinals of the regional tournament hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University. The duo did not enter the main draw.

The ITA Cup, formerly known as the Small College Nationals, serves as the only national singles and doubles championship for NAIA and NCAA Division II programs. The 39th annual event featured eight regional champions and eight at-large qualifiers from across the country. Earlier this fall, more than 8,000 players competed in 60 regional tournaments in pursuit of a coveted berth in the national championship field.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.