Huskies Win Second Straight in Home Opener

Saturday, January 17

Seattle, Wash.

11:00 AM

University of Washington

Belmont

Photo by: Washington Athletics

January 17, 2026 | Men's Tennis

By: UW Athletic Communications

SEATTLE – Washington earned their second win of 2026 today with an impressive 6-1 victory over visiting Belmont University at the Nordstrom Tennis Center. The Huskies improved to 2-0 on the season and 1-0 overall at home. This was the first meeting between universities.

Leading the way, senior Brett Pearson won both his singles and doubles matches, (6-2, 6-0) and (6-2), to give the Dawgs an early 2-0 advantage over the visiting Bruins. Not to be outshone by fellow upperclassman, junior Soham Purohit, Pearson's doubles partner, walked away with quick 6-3, 6-1 singles victory over Bruins' No. 1 Sabi Roi.

"I'm happy with how we competed today." said Head Coach Rahim Esmail. Coach would go to sing the praises of some of the younger members of the team, "For these young guys it's new territory, with Rohan he saw a lot of play last year at the No. 6, now he's playing higher up at No. 3. And with Stephane, while he didn't play much for us last year, he's pushed his game to another level."

Kamendje has definitely hit a new level of his game, as he's won both his singles matches this season, rallying back from an early set loss today vs Belmont's Charlie Robin, in his first season as the Huskies No. 2 man. Speaking of new levels, freshman Hyeon Seok Seo captured his second win today. A 6-1, 6-4 thriller vs Esteban Ortiz to start the year of with as many wins as matches played.

Rounding out the rest of the line up sophomore Rohan Belday won in a split set tiebreak, 6-4, 6-7, 1-0 over Stefan Vedovelli. While Daniel Bien took his first loss of the new year, with a 6-7, 4-6 defeat to Morgan Woodson.
With a packed schedule next week, including a first round match up against South Florida at the ITA Kickoff Weekend from Austin, TX on Friday and a weekday match Tuesday with Ivy Leaguer's Princeton, the Huskies will welcome the challenge, as Coach Esmail put it, "We're excited. They're an experienced team, a well-coached team. We'll be ready."

Washington Men's Tennis
January 17, 2026
Seattle, Wash. | Nordstrom Tennis Center | 11:00 AM PT
Washington – 6
Belmont – 1
Singles
1. (#89) Soham Purohit (UW) def. Sabi Roi (Bel) – 6-3, 6-1.
2. Stephane Kamendje (UW) def. Charlie Robin (Bel) – 4-6, 6-4, 1-0.
3. Rohan Belday (UW) def. StefanVedovelli (Bel) – 6-4, 6-7,1-0.
4. Brett Pearson (UW) def. Austn Yack (Bel) – 6-2, 6-0.
5. Hyeon Seok Seo (UW) def. Esteban Ortiz(Bel) – 6-1, 6-4.
6. Morgan Woodson (Bel) def. Daniel Bien (UW) – 6-7(3), 4-6.
Order of Finish: 4, 1, 5, 6, 2, 3
Doubles
1. Pearson/Purohit (UW) def. Roi/Vedovelli (Bel) – 6-2
2. Kamendje/Plasvic (UW) vs. Robin/Ecklund (Bel) – 5-4, DNF
3. Belday/Seo (UW) def. Mizerski/Ortiz (Bel) – 6-3
Order of Finish: 1, 3

Match Notes:
Washington 1-0
Belmont 0-1