Flagler College men’s tennis team wins NCAA Division II national championship

The Flagler College men’s tennis team finished the mission.

The Saints won the third national championship in program history with a 4-3 stunner over previously unbeaten Barry University on Sunday afternoon in Surprise, Arizona. Flagler hadn’t beaten Barry since Feb. 19, 1994, a 23-match losing streak that spanned the NAIA and NCAA years for the Saints.

Flagler stamped the upset when Aly El Rafie grinded out a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3) win at the No. 4 singles spot to deliver the championship. Flagler’s two previous national championships came in 1977 and 1986 when the Saints were members of the NAIA. Flagler was the national runner-up in 2024, its first appearance in the championship match.