TYLER, Texas – The 24th-ranked Harding men's tennis team wrapped up its three-match Texas road trip Sunday afternoon, falling 6-1 to No. 6 Lubbock Christian at the Summers Tennis Center.

The Bisons (5-2) faced a steep challenge against a Chaparral lineup featuring four nationally ranked singles players. While Harding pushed two of the three doubles matches to tiebreakers and forced two singles matches into third sets, the depth of the No. 6-ranked Chaps (4-4) proved to be the difference.

Lubbock Christian swept the doubles point to take an early 1-0 lead, though the Bisons did not go quietly. At the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, Harding's duos both battled into tiebreakers, but the Chaps managed to edge out the Bisons 7-6 in both flights to secure the point.

In singles play, No. 4-ranked Kelly Giese outlasted No. 31 Sebastian De La Salas at the top flight. De La Salas displayed great resilience after dropping the first set 6-4, storming back to win a 7-6 tiebreaker in the second. However, Giese regained control in the third, taking the set 6-4 to clinch the victory.

Florian Gayme provided the lone point for the Bisons at the No. 6 position. Gayme remained sharp throughout the weekend, earning a clinical 6-4, 6-3 straight-set win over Hayden Loffler.

The Chaps' nationally ranked core handled the middle of the order. No. 18 Pablo Segura and Andrea Rossi Principe earned straight-set wins at No. 2 and No. 5. At No. 3 and No. 4, the Bisons managed to take the opening sets, but No. 17 Andres de los Rios Kolejewska and No. 26 Mattia Ghedin both rallied to win in three sets over Jan Alexander Has and Caleb Folse, respectively.

Harding returns home following a 1-2 weekend in Tyler that featured two matchups against top-ten opponents. The Bisons will have a few days to regroup before hosting their home opener on Monday, Mar. 2 against Northwest Missouri State.

#6 Lubbock Christian 6, #24 Harding 1

Feb 22, 2026 at Tyler, Texas (Summers Tennis Center)

Singles Competition

1. #4 Kelly Giese (LCU) def. #31 Sebastian De La Salas (HU) 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4

2. #18 Pablo Segura (LCU) def. Cian Mikkelsen (HU) 6-1, 6-1

3. #17 Andres de los Rios Kolejewska (LCU) def. Jan Alexander Has (HU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2

4. #26 Mattia Ghedin (LCU) def. Caleb Folse (HU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0

5. Andrea Rossi Principe (LCU) def. Edoardo D'Arrigo (HU) 7-5, 6-4

6. Florian Gayme (HU) def. Hayden Loffler (LCU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles Competition

1. Mattia Ghedin/Kelly Giese (LCU) def. Sebastian De La Salas/Edoardo D'Arrigo (HU) 7-6 (7-5)

2. Pablo Segura/Andres de los Rios Kolejewska (LCU) def. #23 Florian Gayme/Jan Alexander Has (HU) 7-6 (7-2)

3. Andrea Rossi Principe/Hayden Loffler (LCU) def. Luis Agullo/Cian Mikkelsen (HU) 6-4

Match Notes Harding 5-2; National ranking #24 Lubbock Christian 4-4; National ranking #6