Daijima and Patel Claim All-BIG EAST Honors
4/30/2026 10:30:00 AM | Men's Tennis
OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton men's tennis senior Yuma Daijima was named a unanimous All-BIG EAST selection and senior Kirtan Patel earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors, the league announced on Thursday, April 30. The selections were made by the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
A two-time All-BIG EAST selection, Daijima is just the second player in program history to receive multiple all-conference honors, joining former Bluejay standout Alejandro Gandini.
A native of Toyko, Japan, Daijima played at the No. 1 singles position for the majority of the season, helping guide the Bluejays to 12 victories, including a perfect 9-0 record at home. The senior standout posted 11 wins throughout the season, including eight via straight sets and three victories over BIG EAST competition.
Daijima also combined for 15 wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles position to lead the Bluejays. He teamed up with Patel and sophomore Rocky McKenzie to go 5-0 in BIG EAST play, which includes a thrilling 7-6 (7-4) win over DePaul's Gandini and Pablo Torres Almeida in the regular season finale.
Patel also claimed All-BIG EAST Second Team honors for the first time in his career, combining for 22 wins, mainly at the No. 2 singles and doubles position this spring. The Ontario, Canada native ranked fourth on the team with 12 doubles wins, which included a pair of wins in BIG EAST play. In addition, Patel also racked up 10 singles victories, including a massive 6-2, 6-2 straight sets win over the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year David Petrovic.
Overall, Daijima and Patel have combined for 226 total wins. Daijima finished his career ranked seventh in program history with 115 career wins, while Patel racked up the ninth-most wins in a career with 111 career victories.
St. John's swept all three major awards with Radomir Tomic taking home BIG EAST Player of the Year honors and Petrovic earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year acclaim. In addition, Dillon Pottish and his staff claimed BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
2026 BIG EAST Men's Tennis Major Awards & All-Conference Teams
*Denotes unanimous selection
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Radomir Tomic, St. John's*
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: David Petrovic, St. John's*
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year: St. John's
All-BIG EAST First Team
Yuma Daijima, Creighton*
Alejandro Gandini, DePaul*
Sebastian Medica, DePaul*
Semen Agynskyy, St. John's*
Radomir Tomic, St. John's*
Nicholas Herdoiza, Xavier*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Riccardo Baldi, Butler*
Kirtan Patel, Creighton
James O'Sullivan, Georgetown
Blake Roegner, Marquette
David Petrovic, St. John's*
Alex Kotarski, Xavier
A two-time All-BIG EAST selection, Daijima is just the second player in program history to receive multiple all-conference honors, joining former Bluejay standout Alejandro Gandini.
A native of Toyko, Japan, Daijima played at the No. 1 singles position for the majority of the season, helping guide the Bluejays to 12 victories, including a perfect 9-0 record at home. The senior standout posted 11 wins throughout the season, including eight via straight sets and three victories over BIG EAST competition.
Daijima also combined for 15 wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 doubles position to lead the Bluejays. He teamed up with Patel and sophomore Rocky McKenzie to go 5-0 in BIG EAST play, which includes a thrilling 7-6 (7-4) win over DePaul's Gandini and Pablo Torres Almeida in the regular season finale.
Patel also claimed All-BIG EAST Second Team honors for the first time in his career, combining for 22 wins, mainly at the No. 2 singles and doubles position this spring. The Ontario, Canada native ranked fourth on the team with 12 doubles wins, which included a pair of wins in BIG EAST play. In addition, Patel also racked up 10 singles victories, including a massive 6-2, 6-2 straight sets win over the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year David Petrovic.
Overall, Daijima and Patel have combined for 226 total wins. Daijima finished his career ranked seventh in program history with 115 career wins, while Patel racked up the ninth-most wins in a career with 111 career victories.
St. John's swept all three major awards with Radomir Tomic taking home BIG EAST Player of the Year honors and Petrovic earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year acclaim. In addition, Dillon Pottish and his staff claimed BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
2026 BIG EAST Men's Tennis Major Awards & All-Conference Teams
*Denotes unanimous selection
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Radomir Tomic, St. John's*
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: David Petrovic, St. John's*
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year: St. John's
All-BIG EAST First Team
Yuma Daijima, Creighton*
Alejandro Gandini, DePaul*
Sebastian Medica, DePaul*
Semen Agynskyy, St. John's*
Radomir Tomic, St. John's*
Nicholas Herdoiza, Xavier*
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Riccardo Baldi, Butler*
Kirtan Patel, Creighton
James O'Sullivan, Georgetown
Blake Roegner, Marquette
David Petrovic, St. John's*
Alex Kotarski, Xavier
Players Mentioned
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