Alejandro Gandini Receives Spot on All-BIG EAST Second Team
5/2/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Gandini is the first Bluejay to ever earn multiple all-conference honors as a Bluejay.
OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton men's tennis junior Alejandro Gandini earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors, the league announced on Thursday morning.
Gandini, claiming All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition for the second straight season, is the first Bluejay to ever receive multiple all-conference honors in program history.
The Dominican Republic native played at the No. 4 singles position for the majority of the 2024 season, helping guide the Bluejays to a 13-9 team record. The junior standout earned 13 singles wins throughout the season, posting a 5-2 record against BIG EAST competition, including a 6-2, 6-2 straight-sets win over Butler's Nicolas Arts in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Gandini also combined for 14 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions to lead the Bluejays. Gandini teamed up for with senior Matthew Lanahan for a pair of wins at the top doubles position, while earning 12 victories and BIG EAST Doubles Team of the Week once with sophomore Yuma Daijima this spring.
Earlier this season, Gandini and Lanahan made history, becoming the first doubles team in school history to ever earn an ITA National Ranking. The dynamic duo entered the rankings at No. 47 after finishing the fall as the runner-ups at the ITA Central Regional, becoming the first Bluejays in program history to qualify for the ITA Natalia Fall Championships, where they advanced to the Round of 16.
"Alejandro knows how to perform," said head coach Gerhard Posch. "He's a competitor through and through. He deserves this recognition and we're looking forward to what he will be able to achieve in his next two years as a Bluejay."
Georgetown's Jake Fellows was named BIG EAST Player of the Year, while St. John's Armando Sotelo nabbed BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Additionally, DePaul's Matt Brothers and Georgetown's Freddy Mesmer were named as the Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year.
Jake Fellows, Sr., Georgetown (Tokyo, Japan)*
Freshman of the Year
Armando Sotelo, Fr., St. John's (Queretaro, Mexico)*
Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year
DePaul (Matt Brothers) and Georgetown (Freddy Mesmer)
First Team
Leon Huck, Gr., DePaul*
Matteo Iaquinto, Jr., DePaul*
Pablo Torres Almeida, So., DePaul
Jake Fellows, Jr., Georgetown*
Zamaan Moledina, So., Georgetown*
Carl Gustavsson, Jr., St. John's*
Second Team
Alvaro Huete Vadillo, 5th, Butler
Alejandro Gandini, Jr., Creighton
Blake Roegner, So., Marquette
Francisco Bascon, Gr., St. John's
Ryota Kaneda, Jr., St. John's
Ryan Cahill, Jr., Xavier
*Denotes unanimous selection
Gandini, claiming All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition for the second straight season, is the first Bluejay to ever receive multiple all-conference honors in program history.
The Dominican Republic native played at the No. 4 singles position for the majority of the 2024 season, helping guide the Bluejays to a 13-9 team record. The junior standout earned 13 singles wins throughout the season, posting a 5-2 record against BIG EAST competition, including a 6-2, 6-2 straight-sets win over Butler's Nicolas Arts in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Gandini also combined for 14 wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles positions to lead the Bluejays. Gandini teamed up for with senior Matthew Lanahan for a pair of wins at the top doubles position, while earning 12 victories and BIG EAST Doubles Team of the Week once with sophomore Yuma Daijima this spring.
Earlier this season, Gandini and Lanahan made history, becoming the first doubles team in school history to ever earn an ITA National Ranking. The dynamic duo entered the rankings at No. 47 after finishing the fall as the runner-ups at the ITA Central Regional, becoming the first Bluejays in program history to qualify for the ITA Natalia Fall Championships, where they advanced to the Round of 16.
"Alejandro knows how to perform," said head coach Gerhard Posch. "He's a competitor through and through. He deserves this recognition and we're looking forward to what he will be able to achieve in his next two years as a Bluejay."
Georgetown's Jake Fellows was named BIG EAST Player of the Year, while St. John's Armando Sotelo nabbed BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Additionally, DePaul's Matt Brothers and Georgetown's Freddy Mesmer were named as the Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year.
2024 BIG EAST Men's Tennis All-Conference Selections
Player of the YearJake Fellows, Sr., Georgetown (Tokyo, Japan)*
Freshman of the Year
Armando Sotelo, Fr., St. John's (Queretaro, Mexico)*
Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year
DePaul (Matt Brothers) and Georgetown (Freddy Mesmer)
First Team
Leon Huck, Gr., DePaul*
Matteo Iaquinto, Jr., DePaul*
Pablo Torres Almeida, So., DePaul
Jake Fellows, Jr., Georgetown*
Zamaan Moledina, So., Georgetown*
Carl Gustavsson, Jr., St. John's*
Second Team
Alvaro Huete Vadillo, 5th, Butler
Alejandro Gandini, Jr., Creighton
Blake Roegner, So., Marquette
Francisco Bascon, Gr., St. John's
Ryota Kaneda, Jr., St. John's
Ryan Cahill, Jr., Xavier
*Denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
Creighton Men's Tennis Final Point and Celebration vs. Xavier, 4/19/25
Saturday, April 19
Creighton Men's Tennis Postgame vs. North Dakota, 3/30/25
Sunday, March 30
Creighton Women's Tennis Postgame vs. North Dakota, 3/29/25
Sunday, March 30
Crieghton Men's Tennis Postmatch vs. Butler, 2/16/25
Sunday, February 16
