Eastern Florida State College’s men’s tennis team placed third in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament at Collin College in Plano, Texas, marking the program’s best finish in its history. The team’s performance capped a historic week for the program, which had previously reached the national semifinals in 2022 and 2023. Coach Nick Rosatti called the achievement “a stellar week of tennis” and said he was “immensely proud” of the team’s effort.
The tournament, held May 14–16, saw the team advance through multiple rounds before falling in the national final to host Collin College. The loss came in straight sets, but the team’s overall performance set a new standard for the program. This is the third time an Eastern Florida State team has placed third in the national tournament, with the last such finish occurring in 2019.
The doubles team of Johan Mottlau and Filip Sormaz secured a national title in straight sets during the tournament, adding individual hardware to the team’s collective achievement. Mottlau, a junior from Sweden, and Sormaz, a senior from Croatia, defeated the pair from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in the final. Their victory highlighted the team’s depth and skill across all match formats.
Rosatti praised the team’s resilience, noting their ability to “make a huge comeback” during the tournament. The team’s third-place finish is expected to boost recruitment and visibility for the program, which has grown steadily over the past five years. The tournament’s host, Collin College, praised Eastern Florida State’s performance as a “testament to the strength of NJCAA men’s tennis.”
The team returns to Brevard County next week for a series of exhibition matches at the Space Coast Sports Complex in Cocoa. Fans are encouraged to attend to support the athletes who brought national recognition to the region.