SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For the first time in program history, the Harding men's tennis team is headed to the MIAA Championship match.

The Bisons overcame an early doubles deficit to storm past Nebraska-Kearney 4-1 in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Thursday at the Cooper Tennis Complex. Harding (16-6) won four straight singles matches to punch its ticket to Friday's final against No. 11-ranked Washburn.

Since joining the MIAA for the 2020-21 season, Harding had reached the semifinals three times but had never advanced to the title match. That changed Thursday behind a dominant display of singles play.

Turning the Tide 

The afternoon began with Nebraska-Kearney (UNK) seizing the doubles point. While the Harding duo of Florian Gayme and Jan Alexander Has earned a 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot, the Lopers took matches at No. 1 and No. 3 to carry a 1-0 lead into singles.

The lead was short-lived.

The Bisons responded by taking the opening set on five of the six singles courts, quickly shifting the pressure back to the Lopers. Freshman Jan Alexander Has evened the dual at 1-1 with a clinical 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jakub Strzelecki at No. 6.

Adrian Solorzano, the No. 66-ranked player in the nation, put Harding ahead for good with a 6-2, 6-4 win at the No. 1 flight over Ivan Melnik. Sebastian De Las Salas followed shortly after at No. 2, defeating Andy Brisdon 6-2, 6-1 to put the Bisons within a single point of the clinch.

The Clinch 

Junior Cian Mikkelsen provided the historic final point at the No. 3 position. After cruising through the first set 6-2, Mikkelsen held off a late charge from Alexandre Jaulin to take the second set 7-5, sparking a celebration on the Springfield courts.

Matches at No. 4 and No. 5 involving Luis Agullo and Caleb Folse were abandoned once the dual was decided.

Championship Outlook 

Harding will face a formidable task in the final, taking on No. 11-ranked Washburn (16-5), the top seed from the North Division. The Ichabods reached the final with a 4-1 win over Northwest Missouri semifinal match.

First serve for the MIAA Championship is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m.

Harding 4, Nebraska-Kearney 1

4/30/2026 at Springfield, Mo. (Cooper Tennis Complex)

Singles competition

1. #66 Adrian Solorzano (HU) def. Ivan Melnik (UNK) 6-2, 6-4

2. Sebastian De Las Salas (HU) def. Andy Brisdon (UNK) 6-2, 6-1

3. Cian Mikkelsen (HU) def. Alexandre Jaulin (UNK) 6-2, 7-5

4. Luis Agullo (HU) vs. Ilan Fuentes (UNK) 6-4, 4-6, unfinished

5. Caleb Folse (HU) vs. Cesare Carpano (UNK) 6-4, unfinished

6. Jan Alexander Has (HU) def. Jakub Strzelecki (UNK) 6-3, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Ivan Melnik/Andy Brisdon (UNK) def. Adrian Solorzano/Cian Mikkelsen (HU) 6-1

2. Florian Gayme/Jan Alexander Has (HU) def. Ilan Fuentes/Tom van den Dungen (UNK) 6-3

3. Jakub Strzelecki/Cesare Carpano (UNK) def. Sebastian De Las Salas/Edoardo D'Arrigo (HU) 6-3

Match Notes

• Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,1,2,3)

• Records: Harding 16-6; Nebraska-Kearney 13-10

• MIAA Tournament Semifinals