Reporter: William Quincy
After more than two decades away from competition, Iona men’s tennis finally had its moment, and it came sooner than anyone expected.
The Gaels returned to the court for the first time in 23 years on Friday, opening the 2026-27 season with a 5-2 road victory over Holy Cross. For a program beginning a new chapter, its first match back could not have provided a better introduction.
Iona immediately established control in doubles play, sweeping all three matches to secure the first point of the afternoon. Taylor Yarnell and Leo Hsu opened with a 6-4 victory in the first doubles, followed by Roko Kacer and Mark Taviloglu winning 6-4 in the second, and finally Brandon Ramos and George Lyons completed the sweep with another 6-4 victory in the third match.
With the doubles point secured, the Gaels carried that momentum into singles play.
Ramos delivered one of Iona’s most dominant performances of the afternoon, cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 victory in singles. Hsu followed with a 6-4, 6-3 win, while Yusen Sato earned another straight-set victory, winning 7-6, 6-2.
The match ultimately came down to Yarnell in singles, and the freshman delivered one of the afternoon’s most memorable moments.
After dropping the opening set in a tiebreaker, Yarnell responded by taking the second set 6-2. The deciding tiebreaker became a marathon back-and-forth, with Yarnell eventually surviving 15-13 to clinch the point and officially seal Iona’s 5-2 victory.
Holy Cross claimed victories at two singles, but it was not enough to slow the Gaels’ historic return.
The win also marked the first career head-coaching victory for Iona head coach Katia Bogomolova, adding another milestone to an already significant afternoon for the program.
For a team that had not played a Division I match in 23 years, the opening day was about more than simply getting back on the court. It was the first opportunity for a brand-new group of players to begin creating an identity for a program that had been absent since 2003.
The Gaels showed that identity by starting strong in doubles, staying resilient in singles, and proving capable of closing out a competitive match on the road.
The comeback is no longer something waiting to happen. It has officially begun.
Iona will now look to build on its historic opening victory when the Gaels make their home debut against St. Thomas Aquinas on Sept. 25 at the Meyer Athletic Center.
