Navy Upsets Top Seed Lehigh to Win 16th Tennis Title

Navy's men's tennis team proved that championships aren't won on paper when they upset top-seeded Lehigh to claim the 2026 Patriot League title in a thrilling comeback victory.

The match started rough for the Midshipmen. Lehigh grabbed the doubles point with victories at courts one and two, then extended their lead to 2-0 when Alex Van Lumich dominated his singles match with a crushing 6-0, 6-1 win.

But Navy wasn't backing down. The team had won four first sets across the singles courts, and those early leads turned into momentum the Mountain Hawks couldn't stop.

Herrick Legaspi kicked off the comeback with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at the top singles position, cutting Lehigh's lead in half. Steve Nguyen followed with his own straight-set win at the sixth position, tying the match at 2-2 and sending energy through the Navy bench.

Jeffrey Etterbeek gave Navy their first lead of the afternoon with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 win at fifth singles. The pressure shifted entirely to Lehigh as the Midshipmen stood one point away from the championship.

Charlie Spencer sealed the victory with a three-set battle at third singles, winning 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. His championship-clinching performance earned him the Joe Abrahamson Memorial Award as tournament MVP after going 5-1 across his three tournament matches.

Why This Inspires

This victory showcases the power of resilience when the stakes are highest. Navy could have folded after falling behind 2-0 to the tournament's top seed, but instead they leaned on preparation, teamwork, and belief in each other.

The Midshipmen demonstrated that early setbacks don't determine final outcomes. Four different players stepped up to deliver crucial singles victories, proving that championship teams win together.

For a program claiming its 16th Patriot League title, this comeback adds another chapter to Navy's legacy of excellence and determination on the tennis court.