Men’s Tennis Claims No. 6 Seed for BIG EAST Championships, Opens Play Against Xavier
4/13/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis
OMAHA, Neb. – The Creighton men's tennis team earned the No. 6 seed for the 2026 BIG EAST Tennis Championships Presented by JEEP, the league announced on Monday afternoon. The Bluejays will open postseason play against third-seeded Xavier on Friday, April 17 at 8 a.m. Central.
The Bluejays will head to Cayce, S.C. looking to revenge a 4-3 lost to the Musketeers in Cincinnati on April 3. Creighton finished the regular season with a 12-13 overall record, including a 3-4 mark against BIG EAST competition.
Xavier enters Friday's matchup with a 9-12 overall record, which includes a 3-2 mark against BIG EAST competition this season. The Musketeers have captured BIG EAST wins over Marquette (4-3), Creighton (4-3) and most recently Butler (5-2).
Creighton and Xavier have met 11 times since the Jays joined the league prior to the 2014 season, with CU holding a 7-4 lead in the all-time series. The two teams have also met in the BIG EAST Tournament twice with the Bluejays coming out on top 4-1 in 2017 and 2025.
Seniors Yuma Daijima and Kirtan Patel have held down the top two singles positions, while combining for 11 victories at the No. 2 doubles position this season for the Bluejays.
Daijima has posted a team-high 26 combined wins, recording 15 doubles victories and 11 singles wins across the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. Patel, meanwhile, has combined for 21 victories, including eight wins at the top 2 single spots.
Senior Zachary Kuo ranks tied for second on the team with 25 combined wins, finishing the regular season second on the team with 14 doubles wins, including 13 victories with doubles partner Mathis Dahler. Kuo also is tied for second on the team with 11 singles victories.
Dahler, meanwhile, is tied for second on the team with 25 total wins, picking up a team-best 12 singles wins, mainly at the No. 4 singles position.
The Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center will host the BIG EAST Tennis Championships for the eighth consecutive season. The facility offers 30 lighted world-class courts with a championship-sized stadium court that holds a viewing capacity of approximately 500 spectators.
Seeding for the championships were determined by a committee that reviews each team's regular season schedule, ITA ranking, results against BIG EAST and common non-conference opponents and wins/losses against ranked foes.
Men's Schedule
Friday, April 17 - 9 a.m. (Quarterfinals)
#1 St. John's vs. #8 Villanova
#2 DePaul vs. #7 Marquette
#3 Xavier vs. #6 Creighton
#4 Georgetown vs. #5 Butler
Saturday, April 18 - 9 a.m.
Two semifinal matches
Sunday, April 19 - 9 a.m.
Championship match
The Bluejays will head to Cayce, S.C. looking to revenge a 4-3 lost to the Musketeers in Cincinnati on April 3. Creighton finished the regular season with a 12-13 overall record, including a 3-4 mark against BIG EAST competition.
Xavier enters Friday's matchup with a 9-12 overall record, which includes a 3-2 mark against BIG EAST competition this season. The Musketeers have captured BIG EAST wins over Marquette (4-3), Creighton (4-3) and most recently Butler (5-2).
Creighton and Xavier have met 11 times since the Jays joined the league prior to the 2014 season, with CU holding a 7-4 lead in the all-time series. The two teams have also met in the BIG EAST Tournament twice with the Bluejays coming out on top 4-1 in 2017 and 2025.
Seniors Yuma Daijima and Kirtan Patel have held down the top two singles positions, while combining for 11 victories at the No. 2 doubles position this season for the Bluejays.
Daijima has posted a team-high 26 combined wins, recording 15 doubles victories and 11 singles wins across the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions. Patel, meanwhile, has combined for 21 victories, including eight wins at the top 2 single spots.
Senior Zachary Kuo ranks tied for second on the team with 25 combined wins, finishing the regular season second on the team with 14 doubles wins, including 13 victories with doubles partner Mathis Dahler. Kuo also is tied for second on the team with 11 singles victories.
Dahler, meanwhile, is tied for second on the team with 25 total wins, picking up a team-best 12 singles wins, mainly at the No. 4 singles position.
The Cayce Tennis & Fitness Center will host the BIG EAST Tennis Championships for the eighth consecutive season. The facility offers 30 lighted world-class courts with a championship-sized stadium court that holds a viewing capacity of approximately 500 spectators.
Seeding for the championships were determined by a committee that reviews each team's regular season schedule, ITA ranking, results against BIG EAST and common non-conference opponents and wins/losses against ranked foes.
Men's Schedule
Friday, April 17 - 9 a.m. (Quarterfinals)
#1 St. John's vs. #8 Villanova
#2 DePaul vs. #7 Marquette
#3 Xavier vs. #6 Creighton
#4 Georgetown vs. #5 Butler
Saturday, April 18 - 9 a.m.
Two semifinal matches
Sunday, April 19 - 9 a.m.
Championship match
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Creighton Men's Tennis Postmatch vs. Air Force, 1/30/26
Saturday, January 31
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
