ACU Doubles Pair Heads to Georgia with NCAA Tournament Hopes

ROME, Ga. – Abilene Christian men's tennis players Gus Tettamble and Luis Jose Nakamine are four wins from reaching the NCAA Tournament as they compete in the ITA Conference Masters beginning Thursday in Rome, Ga.

The doubles pair are part of the field of 32 after winning the ASUN Individual Tournament in Nashville on Oct. 24. The two finalists from this week's event will automatically qualify for the NCAA Tournament in Athens, Ga., from Nov. 17-22.

Getting this far – a first for a Wildcat doubles pair – was not easy though. Tettamble and Nakamine walked into the championship match of the ASUN Individual Tournament with momentum—and then lost it almost instantly. They had played their best tennis earlier in the day, cruising through the semifinals, but by the time the championship match began, they felt flat. Their opponents from West Florida came out swinging, riding the confidence of underdogs with something to prove.

"We started nervous," Nakamine said. "Between the break, we kind of cooled down a lot, and they were really locked in from the first point."

Tettamble was even more blunt: "We weren't just down—we were getting destroyed. It was pretty ugly for a while."

But doubles can turn in an instant. Down 6-1, ACU's pair finally found their energy. A good shot from one raised the standard for the next, and suddenly, they were competing against each other to raise the level. The intensity clicked, the momentum shifted, and they clawed their way back.

Finding the Groove

The comeback was gritty. They faced a match point in the breaker and saved it.

"We were really pumped with our teammates because we came back all the way from down 6-1," Nakamine said. "That energy was making a big difference."

Tettamble said the rally is difficult to recall, but the winning point is crystal clear in his mind.

"I do remember the last point really well," he said. "It was like, 'Wow, we really did that.' It was not looking good for a while. We dug ourselves out of that hole, and then we celebrated accordingly."

Making History

With the win, Tettamble and Nakamine became the first ACU doubles team to advance to the ITA Conference Masters. It's a breakthrough for the program and an opportunity neither takes lightly.

"It means a lot having a trophy and getting the title," Nakamine said. "But what I really take is the moment and how much fun we're having—playing doubles with [Gus] and with the team."

For Tettamble, who transferred from Tulsa, and Nakamine, who began his career at Baylor, the run is also a reflection of how at home they feel at ACU.

"We both transferred here at different times, and I know this school means a lot to both of us," Tettamble said. "To reach these goals for the school and represent our team—it's pretty exciting. We know we have guys in our corner cheering us on."

Roommates, Partners, Brothers

Their chemistry isn't limited to the court. The two are roommates, sharing an apartment, and have learned how to balance focus with fun.

"There's a time and a place for everything," Tettamble said. "We do a really good job of keeping things light and enjoying the moments, but also being able to buckle down and get serious."

Nakamine agreed.

"Our coach always repeats how impactful our relationships off the court are," he said. "We're a really close team. You can feel that on the court—whatever the score is, it helps us a lot.

"Every day could be the last match, you know? So I always say, 'Let's try to have fun and leave it all out on the court.'"

That approach has Tettamble and Nakamine in the ITA Conference Masters, which is comprised of one doubles pair from each NCAA Division I conference. The last two standing will head to the NCAA Tournament later this month.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Luis Jose Nakamine

Gus Tettamble

Footer

Next Event

Related News

Players Mentioned

Luis Jose Nakamine

Gus Tettamble

Related Videos

Footer